A Chairde,   Over the last few years increasing numbers have committed suicide. We have all been affected by it, we personally knew too many people who took their lives in that short space of time. We are all affected in different ways. I am not disturbed by that would be lie. To see the suffering their sisters, brothers, parents and extended families go through is truly horrendous.   At least awareness and assistance is improving and am encouraged by those who come out and admit that they suffer from various degrees of depression. Pieta house is a growing organisation who have 5 centres and now employ almost 40 therapists nationwide, and are a highly respected and recognised service for those who are depressed or are feeling suicidal. With all this in mind a friend of mine and I have signed up to raise funds for Pieta House and climb Kilimanjaro in July 2017.   Pieta House, the centre for the prevention of self-harm and suicide opened its doors a decade ago with Lucan in County Dublin the centre of operations. In the intervening years we have seen and helped over 20,000 people in suicidal distress or engaging in self-harm, and established eight subsequent centres, three in the greater Dublin area – Ballyfermot, Tallaght and Finglas and five further centres to cater for the rest of the country in Limerick, Cork, Tipperary, Galway and Kerry.   It is a lifetime ambition to climb the world highest freestanding mountain. The 12 day expedition involves 7 days of trekking to the summit. The trail via the Machame route also gives increased opportunity for altitude acclimatisation, which is vital for a successful summit attempt. It also brings forward a great opportunity to raise badly needed funds for a terrific cause.   Beir Bua