Offaly man Caolan Kelly raises over €5k on 1,500km solo trek

by Rebekah O'Reilly

Offaly man Caolan Kelly has raised €5,020 for the Jigsaw mental health charity so far on his epic solo trek from Paris to Rome – and he's not finished yet.

The Lusmagh native set out on the mammoth 1,500km journey through central Europe on August 2.

Over the course of the first 45 days he has travelled 1,000km, to Genoa, Italy, and is now closing in on the finish line.

Talking about what inspired him to set off on his solo journey, Caolan shared that he has struggled with his mental health, and wanted to inspire others that are struggling.

“Growing up, I faced my own battles with mental health," he stated. "I know what it's like to struggle silently, feeling trapped and alone and not knowing how to reach out for help.

"But I also know the power of breaking free from those chains and I'd love to encourage others to reach out and seek support if needed in any shape or form."

The young man has been documenting his journey on social media, sharing video updates on his progress throughout the challenge.

In a recent update, the mental health advocate opened up about the difficulties he has faced so far on his journey.

“Hiking 1,000km solo, I've faced [battles] – the self-doubt, the overthinking, the persistent negative chatter. [There's] days when I feel stuck in a rut.

“The crazy thing about struggle [is] it feels like it's breaking you but it's actually building you,” Caolan said.

Jigsaw Community Fundraising Officer, Steven Short said: "We are incredibly inspired by Caolan's commitment to youth mental health. His journey from Paris to Rome is not just a physical challenge, but a powerful message of hope and resilience.

“Caolan's openness about his own experiences will undoubtedly encourage young people to seek help when they need it.

"This fundraising effort will make a real difference in our ability to support young people across Ireland, and we're deeply grateful for Caolan's dedication to this cause."

For updates on Caolan's journey, follow his Instagram @kelly_caolan.

To donate to Caolon's fundraiser for Jigsaw, go to: www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/CaolanKelly.

For more information about the charity Jigsaw, visit: www.jigsaw.ie.