Abseiling challenge for MindWise boss

Joice Matthew meeting up with Jo-Anne Dobson MLA ahead of his charity abseil down the Europa Hotel on 12 September.

Joice, who is manager of MindWise in Lurgan aims to face his fears once again to fundraise for the charity.

He also aims to raise public awareness about mental health and to support people living with mental health issues.

The brave health worker has already undertaken a fire walk raising funds for MindWise which helps people living in our community who have mental health issues.

And his latest challenge will be to abseil down the side of the Europa Hotel on September 12.

Joice said: “I feel passionately about helping people who have a mental illness and believe in taking on any challenge to help raise public awareness about the issues which too many local people experience in their daily  lives.”

Supported by local Ulster Unionist MLA Jo-Anne Dobson, she said of Joice: “As well as being a very brave man he is a true ambassador for MindWise and has taken on many challenges over the years to prove it.

“His latest fundraising challenge will be abseiling down the side of the Europa Hotel in Belfast and I would encourage as many people to support him as  possible.”

Joice added: “We are thankful for Jo-Anne’s strong support – she has always been there for us and we know she feels passionately about an issue which we hold so dear to our hearts – helping and supporting those who are most at risk in our community.

“I am looking forward to the challenge and would ask anyone who is able to support me to contact our offices or visit the Just Giving page to pledge your support for the Abseil and an important cause in our community.”

Concluding Mrs Dobson said: “The mental health stigma in our community is a major challenge which MindWise is doing so much to tackle by helping people through their illness.

“I pay tribute to Joice and to the volunteers and clients of MindWise who will be rooting for him on 12 September!”

If you would like to support Joice please donate through his website at https://www.justgiving.com/JoiceMathew/ or call into the MindWise centre at Rathfriland Street in Banbridge.

If you would like to know more about the work of MindWise here in Northern Ireland and ways in which you can support it including making a donation or becoming a member of the charity, please visit www.mindwisenv.org or telephone 028 4066 9402, 028 3832 9492, 028 9040 2323.