The Law Society of Ireland presented €300,000 to its Calcutta Run charity partners Peter McVerry Trust and The Hope Foundation. The two charities received cheques for €150,000 at an event hosted by law firm, Gartlan Furey at The Assembly House, Dublin 2 on Wednesday 13 November.

The Calcutta Run – The Legal Fundraiser is organised by the Law Society of Ireland. Each year the event attracts over 1100 legal professionals who walk, run or cycle to help fight homelessness in Dublin and Kolkata. The 21st annual Calcutta Run event took place on Saturday 18 May 2019.

In 2019 the Calcutta Run met its €300,000 fundraising target contributing to a staggering total of €4.3 million raised to date. This is the second year in a row the event has raised over €300,000 for its charity partners, Peter McVerry Trust and The Hope Foundation. 

Attending her first official event since her appointment, President of the Law Society of Ireland Michele O'Boyle commended the solicitors’ profession for its unrelenting efforts in supporting the event.

“The Law Society and the solicitors’ profession are proud to support the Calcutta Run, which is now in its 21st year,” she said.

“When the Calcutta Run fundraiser started in 1999, I don’t think anyone could predict that Ireland’s homeless figures would rise to over 10,000 in 2019. Homelessness is affecting more and more people each day, including many families and children.”

“It gets more difficult every year to reach our ambitious target. Last year the Calcutta Run set a fundraising target of €300,000 to celebrate its 20th year and in its 21st year, we are proud to have reached that target again,” she said.

Projects in Dublin and Kolkata

The Calcutta Run directly supports a number of projects in Dublin and Kolkata, including residential community detox programmes and home refurbishments in aid of Peter McVerry Trust, and a 24 hour emergency response units and support for dozens of HIV/AIDs infected children in Kolkata through the Hope Foundation.

Pat Doyle, CEO of Peter McVerry Trust, said “The Calcutta Run is now our longest running external partnership and we are delighted to continue our work with them. The Calcutta Run has made a huge contribution to the work of the Peter McVerry Trust over the years. With their support, we are able to furnish numerous long term family housing units giving people and families a key to their own door.”

“We would like to offer a huge thank you to everyone who has supported and taken part in the Calcutta Run this year and over the years,” said Mr Doyle.

Maureen Forrest, Founder and Director of the Hope Foundation said, “We are delighted to continue our partnership with the Calcutta Run. Twenty years ago we made a promise to care for the children in Kolkata and with the Calcutta Run’s support we can continue to keep that promise.”

"Last year and with the Calcutta Run’s support, our Hive Emergency Response Unit was able to rescue 341 children from crisis situations on the street of Kolkata and housed 36 girls in our Bhorukha Snehneer Home, and 52 girls in Kasba girls home. We were also in a position to contribute to a new wing in our Hope hospital. The Calcutta Run is a testament to the solicitors’ profession and we thank you for your support,” she said.

“I think the generosity and energy put in to the event is testament to the profession but also a reflection and acknowledgement of the challenging times we are in,” said Ms O’Boyle.

Event Day

The Calcutta Run includes a 5km and 10km course, which starts and finishes in Blackhall Place, winding its way through the Phoenix Park via the surrounding streets of Dublin 7. Satellite events also take place in Cork, New York and Kolkata.

Return to previous press releases