In 20 years a lot can be achieved when people come together. Since 1999, the Calcutta Run, a Law Society of Ireland initiative, has raised €4 million to help alleviate homelessness in Dublin and Kolkata. This money has directly supported a number of projects, including:

• 700 residential community detox programmes, and
• 20 new home refurbishments in aid of Peter McVerry Trust, and
• 24 hour emergency response units, and
• support for dozens of HIV/AID infected children in Kolkata through The Hope Foundation, and more. 

Calcutta Run organisers recently presented Peter McVerry Trust and The Hope Foundation with cheques for €150,000 each at an event held at law firm, William Fry. The money was raised through the Calcutta Run held earlier this year on Saturday 19 May.

To date, the Run has raised €4 million helping to fight homelessness in Dublin and Kolkata by supporting its charity partners, Peter McVerry Trust, The Hope Foundation and previously GOAL.

Calcutta Run 2018

Ken Murphy, Director General of the Law Society says the Law Society and solicitors’ profession are committed to helping fight homelessness in Ireland and abroad.

“The issue of homelessness is unfortunately more wide-spread than ever. When we started this fundraiser in 1999, we could not predict how the issue of homelessness would evolve and change over the years. It is now more important than ever to support this cause.”

“Our partner charities rely on the Calcutta Run each year to fund specific projects such as detox programmes, emergency response units and sheltered accommodation in Kolkata as well as directly supporting individuals and families in need in Dublin.”

“We are proud to be associated with and working alongside two fantastic charities. The legal profession is committed to helping fight homelessness now and into the future.”

Directly helping families fight homelessness

Since 1999, the Calcutta Run has provided an important source of funds that has allowed Peter McVerry Trust to offer frontline services to some of the most vulnerable people in Irish society.

Pat Doyle, CEO of Peter McVerry Trust says the Calcutta Run has been a lifeline to Peter McVerry Trust for many years.

“The work of the volunteers and law firms behind this initiative has simply been phenomenal. We are absolutely privileged to have received €2 million in funding which has greatly strengthened our work to provide homeless, housing and drug treatment services to hundreds of vulnerable people in our society.”

Traditionally the funds raised by the Calcutta Run for Peter McVerry Trust have gone towards the charity’s Residential Community Detox in Dublin, which works with around 70 people a year. With the support of money raised by legal professionals through the Calcutta Run the service has enabled almost 700 people in the last 10 years to access the methadone detox programme.

Funds raised by the Calcutta Run have also enabled Peter McVerry Trust to respond to the needs of families impacted by homelessness as well as grow their housing stock to help provide more pathways out of homelessness.

The money has also helped in efforts to support over 150 homeless families, furnish 20 new homes and offer visiting support to hundreds of people in their new homes.

“Everyone at Peter McVerry Trust would like to offer a huge thank you to everyone who has supported and taken part in the Calcutta Run over the years,” says Mr Doyle.

Emergency response units

The Calcutta Run also supports The Hope Foundation’s ‘Hive Emergency Response Unit’, an emergency unit that responds to crises on the streets of Kolkata 24 hours a day. Funding is also provided to Kasba Girls Home and Bhoruka Public Welfare Trust, a home which provides care and support to HIV/AIDS infected and affected children. The Bhoruka Trust currently minds 35 children, 21 of whom are HIV/AIDS infected.

"What the solicitors’ profession has achieved together over the past 20 years is a testament to the power of collaboration, commitment and dedication. Both HOPE and Peter McVerry Trust have made a lifelong commitment to eradicating extreme poverty and homelessness,” says Maureen Forrest, Founder and Director of the Hope Foundation.

“The funding from the Calcutta Run will continue to help human beings in dire circumstances who would not otherwise dare allow themselves to hope for a brighter future. I can never thank everyone involved enough for their extraordinary generosity and spirit,” she says.

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