Lusmagh man reaches Rome after 1,500km solo hike in aid of Jigsaw

Lusmagh native Caolan Kelly has reached the Colleseum in Rome after hiking 1,500km from the Eiffel Tower in Paris in aid of Jigsaw.

The mental health advocate reached Rome on Saturday, October 5 after a gruelling 64 day solo trek he calls "the journey of a lifetime".

"It's been an amazing experience, lots of highs and lots of lows. [There's been] a lot of character development and I've built a lot of resilience.

"[I've] grown as a person, and there's [been] a lot of self-discovery," he said.

Caolan has rasied €6,140 for the charity Jigsaw throughout his hike, and has opened up about his own mental health struggles as a teenager.

“The key message is that a lot of mental health struggles stem from bottling things up. Jigsaw come along in a crisis situation," he said.

“I'd say to young people to share your issues – no issue is too small. Instead of bottling it up, share it before it turns into a crisis.”

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."

To look back on Caolan's journey over the past two months, visit his Instagram @kelly_caolan.

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

For more information about Jigsaw, and their services, go to: www.jigsaw.ie/