A model hoping to break the stigma surrounding mental health after losing her cousin enlisted over 70 takeaways to launch a fundraiser for charity.
Jessica Borza, who opened up about the heartbreak that has crippled her family, explained she is hoping their efforts will help save others from the same pain.
In August last year, the mum of one lost her cousin Enrico, 21, to suicide just after a family holiday.
Yesterday she kicked off what she hopes to become an annual event, with a mass fundraiser in aid of Pieta House with special deals and donation points spreading across 72 chippers in Dublin.
Jessica, who splits her time between running her family business in Templeogue and modelling on TV, said: “In August we lost our cousin Enrico Marsella and he has left a huge impact in our community.
“So we just wanted everyone to come together and raise funds, just for Pieta House and let the message get out there that it is OK not to be OK and we are all in this together.”
Hoping to help break any stigma still attached to opening up about mental health, Jessica added: “The awareness alone has to be more out there for people.
“He was going to get help but it was too late.
“He was like a brother to us. We were all in Italy in August and when we just came back it happened.
“We didn’t expect it at all. His mum’s takeaway is Marcella’s in Rathcoole.
“We are a part of the chipper community in Ireland, I’m Irish/Italian and there are more than 70 chippers participating.
“We just wanted to come together to do in loving memory of him and because we are such a big community in Ireland, we want to make awareness with Pieta House and we are hoping it will be annual and that every year we will be doing it.
“We are all different, I run my family one in Templeogue Village called Silvios.
“We started off with 10 takeaways joining and we ended with 72.
“So we can’t believe the response and hopefully it will get bigger and better next year as well.”
If you or someone you know has been affected by the issues raised in this article please contact:
- Samaritans helpline 116 123
- Aware helpline 1800 80 48 48
- Pieta House on 1800 247 247
- The ISPCC on 01 676 7960
