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Ireland's biggest hugging event!
Free 'Hugs for Health' in Dublin on Friday June 20th with Ray D'Arcy.
On Friday June 20th ('the happiest day of the year!?') Ray D'Arcy and Google staff joined forces with the SpunOut.ie National Youth Website for Ireland's biggest 'free hugs' event promoting positive mental health and wellbeing in Ireland.
About the event (photos and videos being uploaded over the next couple of days..)
Ray joined the SpunOut.ie crew and over 80 staff from Google's European headquarters in what we reckon was Ireland's biggest ever 'free hugs' event.
The 'Hugs for Health' event was designed to raise awareness of SpunOut.ie and its role in supporting and empowering young people via the internet. The event saw Ray D'Arcy join teams of huggers roaming around Grafton St. and St. Stephen's Green with 'Free Hugs' banners, offering hugs to those who might feel like a Friday morning cuddle. The event was featured live on the Ray D'Arcy show on Today FM.
It was part of Google's Corporate Social Responsibility initiative 'GoogleServe', which provides support to charities throughout Ireland and was also supported by The Ray D'Arcy show, which has been active in covering youth mental health and suicide issues.
Commenting on the event SpunOut.ie's Susan Quirke said 'Hugs for Health' took its lead from the growing popularity of free hugs events in cities around the world, where they are often seen as a light hearted way of bringing back a sense of wellbeing in an often busy, stressful and individualistic world.
"SpunOut.ie is a hub for youth culture in Ireland and reaches tens of thousands of young people via the internet each month providing them with information, support and opportunities. We felt this was a great opportunity to get away from our desks, join forces with Ray and the folks at Google in order to promote positive mental health and wellbeing and to raise awareness of SpunOut.ie as an innovative forum for young people in Ireland. It was a deadly event. Tony Fenton from Today FM was passing by in his car and jumped out for hugs. Grannies, teachers, Gardai - and even Flock from the show 'Lost' came along for hugs. We must have hugged 1000s of people and probably inspired 10,000s of hugs across Ireland. We even heard of Irish people hugging in New Zealand because of the event!" said Susan.
Finally, a big thank you to Today FM, The Ray D'Arcy show, the Google crew and the St. Stephens Green Shopping Centre for supporting the event!
Stay tuned for more exciting SpunOut.ie news, events and campaigns.
"Take Control!"
Find out more event info:
Download the ‘Hugs for health’ press release and further information about SpunOut.ie.
Photos from the event
Full Quality Image Press Pack Available here
Tel: 091 533693 (SpunOut.ie office)
Email: info@spunout.ie
