Local man raises stakes on Paris to Rome trek

By Rebekah O'Reilly

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

He has surpassed his original fundraising target of €5,000 in just under seven weeks, and has decided to bump up the target to €7,000.

The Lusmagh native set out on his epic 1,500km Paris to Rome hike on August 2, and has since travelled over 1,000km to Moneglia in the Italian Riviera as of September 20.

Talking to the Offaly Independent about how the experience has been so far, Caolan said: “It's been an amazing experience, lots of highs and lots of lows – it's been the journey of a lifetime.

“I'm in Moneglia in the Italian Riviera a few hours from Genoa on the way to Pisa. I expect to get to Rome in about three weeks – although that's not too stringent.”

“The support has been amazing, there's been a lot of kind words. It's been an amazing experience."

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 who are struggling.

“Growing up, I faced my own battles with mental health," Caolan said. "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 mental health advocate said he has learned a lot from his journey - noting that he has become more resilient as a result of his challenges.

“It's taken me out of my comfort zone. I've been walking about 30km per day, spending a lot of times with my own thoughts. There's so much uncertainty – most nights I don't know where I'm going to sleep.

“All of that has lead to a lot of character development and I've built a lot of resilience. I'm growing as a person, and there's a lot of self-discovery.”

Caolan said he doesn't think young people feel comfortable opening up about their struggles.

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

“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.”

He emphasised the import role that adults play in their young people's lives, and asks that they “create a safe space for young people to open up”.

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.