Tipperary dairy farmer's long walk for mental health awareness
John Wallace is walking between 30km and 50km a day, embarking on the journey unsupported, carrying his own supplies and relying on the kindness of local communities for food and accommodation.
The fundraiser, titled 'Miles for Minds', is being undertaken ahead of the 10th anniversary of the passing of his father, William Wallace who died by suicide in 2015.
Source: milesforminds2025 Instagram
Wallace began the walk on Tuesday (August 5), with the hope of raising funds and awareness for mental health.
He said: "I'm hoping do the Beara-Briefne Way, from Castletownbear to Blacklion in Co. Cavan. It's 550km of a trail which has historical significance to it.
"It goes through my own farm which put it in my mind in the first place. I always wanted to do it, and if I ever did I said I'd raise money for mental health charities."
Wallace explained how farmers' mood is heavily dependent on the weather, with farmers' morale being particularly low from autumn 2023 until autumn 2024 due to the poor farming year.
He said: "In 2024 the mood in farming was very bad, and then in 2025 the mood was good. There's also a lot of external pressures and regulations as well.
"Farmer's don't often talk in time, it's a kind of solitary lifestyle and you're not meeting people."
The dairy farmer feels that people need to be more open about mental health and lift the stigma about not speaking.
Wallace worries that some farmers see it as a 'manly' thing not to speak, and try to carry the weight of the world and get on with it.
He said: "Farmers should talk to your neighbouring farmer, or a friend, or call any of the services I'm raising money for."
Wallace will donate all funds raised evenly between three mental health charities - Aware, Jigsaw, and Pieta House.
He stopped in Ballingeary yesterday (August 7), having walked over 100km. When asked how he was feeling so far, he said: "I'm finding it tough, but the body is starting to get used to it."
Source: John Wallace
The Tipperary man is seeking overnight support in local towns and villages along the way, and is asking for the offer of a bed, shed, field, meal, or even a cup of tea near any of the towns he is passing through.
Full details of how to provide support, and donate to the fundraiser can be found on the 'Miles for Minds' idonate page.
So far Wallace has raised over €11,000 and donations can be made up until September 30.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
10-08-2025
- The Irish Sun
Rise of ‘faux-zempic' fake weight loss drugs being imported into UK black market & sold on social media…how to spot dupe
Celeb Big Brother star Aisleyne Horgan-Wallace tells Sun Club readers she 'thought she was going to die' and even lost her eyesight after unknowingly taking fake weight-loss jabs FAKE JAB HELL Rise of 'faux-zempic' fake weight loss drugs being imported into UK black market & sold on social media…how to spot dupe WEIGHT-LOSS drugs can be a silver bullet for some trying to shed the pounds after years of failure with fad diets and exercise routines. But dodgy vendors selling potentially deadly fake jabs laced with everything from rat poison to cement have appeared on the black market - with murky labs in foreign countries fuelling the supply, experts have told The Sun. 16 Bags of fake Ozempic pens seized in a UK crackdown Credit: MHRA 16 Michelle Sword fell into a coma after using fake fat jabs - which turned out to be insulin Credit: Supplied 16 Aisleyne Horgan-Wallace thought she'd bagged herself a bargain after buying fat jabs through a WhatsApp group - but says she 'nearly died' Credit: aisleyne1/Instagram 16 Wegovy and Mounjaro are the licensed weight loss jabs in the UK Credit: Getty Celeb endorsements and gushing influencers have encouraged many people who can't get fat jabs prescribed by the NHS to look for Wegovy, Ozempic, and Mounjaro elsewhere. And some Brits have found out the hard way about the perils of gambling with fake drugs - which can contain a cocktail of poison, including cement and arsenic. One of those was Celeb Big Brother star Aisleyne Horgan-Wallace, who told The Sun she "thought she was going to die" and even lost her eyesight after unknowingly taking fake weight-loss jabs. She was left bedridden for three days, constantly vomiting and was unable to even walk to her en-suite toilet after injecting what she dubbed a "syringe of horror". Her crystal clear message to anyone thinking about buying weight-loss jabs from an unofficial source is: "Don't." So-called "skinny jabs" require a prescription from a qualified medic - and must be obtained from registered pharmacies. Ozempic is only licensed as a type 2 diabetes treatment in the UK, unlike in America, meaning the NHS cannot prescribe it for weight loss. Private doctors may be willing to prescribe it "off-label" for weight loss - but that exposes people to a higher risk of being duped, experts say. Meanwhile, Wegovy and Mounjaro can be prescribed on the NHS for weight loss - and may also be bought privately. Crucially, private purchases also need a prescription from a qualified medic - and online platforms are required to conduct a face-to-face or video consultation before dispensing the drugs. Towie star Saffron Lempriere reveals how she lost 12 pounds in 4 weeks - without fat jabs But in reality, jabs can be bought without prescriptions - widely available from social media or unlicensed websites posing as pharmacies flogging the stuff for less than half price at around £80. 'Dicing with death' Health chiefs warned last year that deadly fakes had reached the UK market - and broken into the legitimate supply chain. So far, over 100 deaths have been linked to weight loss drugs in the UK, according to recent data, and it's unclear if any deaths have been linked to fake jabs. But a leading GP who spoke to the BBC warned that those buying weight loss drugs online are "dicing with death". Counterfeits are often linked to organised crime groups, according to Anne Devaud, the head of product security at Novo Nordisk - the manufacturer of Ozempic and Wegovy. Anne told The Sun: "There are lots of sellers in Turkey using UK or French phone numbers to hide where the supply is really coming from. "The best way for these criminals to flog their wares is through social media - because that's where Brits naturally turn," she added. I can't believe that I allowed my insecurities to almost kill me Michelle Sword Groups in China are one of the primary sources for the fakes, Anne said, but the company has also identified counterfeit manufacturing in places like Turkey and Brazil. Anne said: "There are different sources of illicit manufacturing. "Some may order semaglutide from, for example, a Chinese supplier and then do their own stuff. "But another group might simply put starch or water inside - because the purpose is solely to make money." Real Ozempic and Wegovy jabs contain the active ingredient semaglutide, while Mounjaro uses a compound of the same chemical with another called tirzepatide. But fake pens can contain dangerously high doses of semaglutide, or different drugs entirely, like insulin, which can make people seriously sick if taken unnecessarily. Some online platforms also sell real products which have been shipped from overseas, where the same rigorous standards don't apply. Experts say that the rise of counterfeit drugs is a consequence of the supply struggling to keep up with demand - and imposter jabs present a range of perils. 16 Mum-of-two Michelle Sword managed to get hold of the fake jabs without any medical checks, and was told it could be delivered straight away Credit: David Hartley 16 Michelle said, 'I can't believe that I allowed my insecurities to almost kill me' Credit: Supplied 16 An original Ozempic pen, top, vs a counterfeit, bottom Credit: PA 16 Counterfeit semaglutide and Ozempic jabs seized in the US Credit: CNBC Toby Nicol, CEO at CheqUp, told The Sun: "The surge in popularity of weight loss injections has unfortunately created a lucrative opportunity for counterfeiters. "Fake weight loss drugs often originate from unregulated manufacturing operations, where oversight is minimal and quality control can be nonexistent - they are only interested in cash, not care. "These counterfeit products frequently enter the market through unauthorised online pharmacies or social media marketplaces that bypass regulation and rules. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is Toby Nicol "They come in one of two forms - either in pens which mimic those offered genuinely for Mounjaro and Wegovy or sold simply as some powder in a vial to which people add water. "This latter type is very common on TikTok where patients are encouraged to buy something, which could be chalk and inject it into themselves. "Anything which costs less than about £80 to £100 per month is probably fake." Toby warned: "If it seems too good to be true, it probably is." Rat poison, cement and arsenic Kevin Joshua, a weight-loss clinician, explained how the fakes sometimes contain insulin instead of semaglutide - which can lead to "critically low blood sugar, coma, or death". People with diabetes take insulin to top up their natural levels, so that they are able to break down sugar properly. Taking too much insulin or injecting when you don't need it can lead to disorientation, seizures or even death. He added: "Chemical analysis of fake weight loss injections has also identified contaminants like rat poison, arsenic, cement, mercury, bacteria or viruses that may result in sepsis, infection, or organ failure." Dr Tim Mackay, a professor at the University of California, San Diego, who studies counterfeit medications, told us that some criminal enterprises get their hands on "research-grade" drugs, not meant for human consumption, and pass it off as the real thing. Other fakes will contain impure semaglutide, dangerously high doses or other drugs entirely, he said. These counterfeit products frequently enter the market through unauthorised online pharmacies or social media marketplaces that bypass regulation and rules Toby Nicol Jason Murphy, Head of Pharmacy and weight loss injection expert at Chemist4U, said: "It really depends on what's in them. "And that's part of the problem, you just don't know. Some might have no active ingredients at all so they just don't work. "Others might contain the wrong dose or harmful substances that can cause stomach issues, blood pressure problems or worse. "There's also a real risk when it comes to sterility. "If the product hasn't been made in clean conditions, there's a chance it could be contaminated, which can lead to infections or serious health complications. "Because these fake drugs haven't gone through proper safety checks, every dose is a gamble." 'I came so close to death' Big Brother star Aisleyne Horgan-Wallace says she almost died and lost her eyesight after taking fake Ozempic last year. She tells The Sun that last year was "really tough" after she lost two very important people and her way of dealing with the pain was to "eat her feelings" - meaning she piled on almost two stone. When a friend suggested she tried Ozempic, Aisleyne rushed into it without considering the dangers, because she was in "such a bad place". She says: "I got added to a WhatsApp group where girls talk about what they want to have done - lip fillers and things - and someone on there was offering Ozempic. 16 Aisleyne Horgan Wallace says she 'nearly died' after injecting fake fat jabs Credit: Olivia West 16 Texts between Aisleyne and the person who organised her supply, about another friend who fell sick after using the injections Credit: supplied 16 Aisleyne's drugs came in an unbranded syringe Credit: supplied How to spot a fake MOST fakes are not completely identical to the authentic products, and there are some signs you can look out. According to Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of Ozempic and Wegovy, these are the giveaways... Dodgy packaging : Fake jabs will often come in boxes and packaging of inferior quality. The graphics are more likely to look cheap or misaligned. : Fake jabs will often come in boxes and packaging of inferior quality. The graphics are more likely to look cheap or misaligned. Spelling errors : Text on the counterfeits are much more likely to contain spelling mistakes. : Text on the counterfeits are much more likely to contain spelling mistakes. Dose selector: The manufacturer says that some fakes have dose selectors which can be pulled out when dialled to a select dose. The selectors on the genuine product are fixed in place. The manufacturer says that some fakes have dose selectors which can be pulled out when dialled to a select dose. The selectors on the genuine product are fixed in place. Unbranded: Some counterfeits are completely unbranded, like the plain syringe Aisleyne received. The genuine products will always be branded with the company name and logo. However, it's important remember that some counterfeits will not bear any of those signs. The only way to guarantee a genuine product is to "obtain appropriate medicine on prescription through legitimate sources", Novo Nordisk advises. "With the first month's supply I felt fine, even energetic, and I could see that I was losing a bit of weight. "But then I took the second month's - and I came so close to death. I wish I never, ever took the first month's supply or even heard about this drug. "For three days I was in bed, literally comatose. I'd wake up, roll over and vomit into a bag. There were bags of vomit all around me. "I couldn't even walk the two steps to the en-suite toilet, I had to crawl and drag myself. "After a day I didn't need to go to the toilet because I wasn't eating or drinking - I couldn't even sip anything. "On day two, I opened my eyes and I couldn't see anything out of one of my eyes." The TV star to this day does not know what was in the jabs - but insists: "It was a syringe of horrors, that's all I know. The chemicals must have been wrong." 16 Wegovy is the UK version of Ozempic licensed for weight loss in the UK Credit: PA 16 Amy Schumer is one of the many high-profile celebs to admit she has used weight loss drugs 16 Gemma Collins also revealed she has been using fat jabs Credit: Many other women have got in touch with Aisleyne with similar accounts, proving the problem is widespread. Michelle Sword, 47, is another who nearly died after injecting herself with a fake Ozempic jab. She fell into a coma after administering the medicine, which turned out to be insulin. Michele said: "It was a lot harder to get hold of Ozempic, so I didn't go down the conventional way of doing it. "The beauty companies and the online aesthetic companies all seemed to have it." The mum-of-two managed to get hold of some without any medical checks, and was told it could be delivered straight away. But soon after injecting, she collapsed and began suffering seizures - and tests showed her blood sugar levels had plummeted and sent her into a diabetic coma. Michelle said: "I can't believe that I allowed my insecurities to almost kill me." Fat jab crisis In December 2024, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society warned that social media was fuelling such an appetite for weight-loss jabs that the supply simply couldn't keep up. It even likened the situation to the toilet paper shortages during the Covid pandemic. To keep up with demand, some NHS pharmacies could soon be given powers to prescribe the injections - cutting out the need for patients to see the GP. Addressing the unlicensed supply chain, it said: "These unregulated websites often specifically target those medicines that are in shortage. "These illegal sites come with the risk that patients may be accessing medicines that are outside of a rigorous, quality-controlled supply chain and may be unauthorised and/or falsified." Similarly, the National Pharmacy Association warned there could be a possible "explosion in the unlicensed sale of medication online". NPA chairman Nick Kaye said last year: 'Pharmacists remain deeply concerned that the current medicine shortages crisis could lead to an explosion in the unlicensed sale of medication online. 'Stocks of Ozempic are very depleted in community pharmacy in the UK and it is important that these remain prioritised for those in the most clinical need. 'Given the precarious state of supply of this and other vital medication, there is a much greater risk of people looking to order in supplies from disreputable online vendors." 16 Even if the product is branded as Ozempic it can be a fake - like this suspected counterfeit Credit: Reuters 16 The drugs can be injected into the skin of your stomach, thigh or arm Cracking down Novo Nordisk is the pharmaceutical company which manufactures Ozempic and Wegovy. Anne, head of product security, told The Sun that pharma companies are collaborating with each other and law enforcement agencies to counter the rise of counterfeit products. She said: "It's a long run, because we are fighting against organized crime. But I'm confident because now we have governance, we are sharing with other pharma companies and authorities. "The best ways to mitigate against the risks are two things: First is to litigate as much as possible and work with prosecutor in order to disrupt [the supply]. "The second is to continue to develop awareness - because everybody has a responsibility. "If patients are more vigilant, ordering less online, if we are collaborating with authorities, if also authorities are reinforcing regulation to avoid any illicit compounding to enter in the country, I'm quite confident that with this combined effort we may really make a difference, so there is no question mark for us. We are on it." Novo Nordisk urges anyone who believes they have hold of a fake pen to not use it. They are encouraged to report it to the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency - the body tasked with protecting the UK's drug supply. The MHRA said it has been seizing counterfeit Ozempic pens since 2023. Andy Morling, its deputy director of criminal enforcement, told CNBC last year: "We saw that the demand increased and quite often as it happens in these situations, criminals try and fill a gap where the supply and demand aren't balanced for a particular product, and we started seeing real counterfeit versions of the Ozempic product on the market."
Agriland
08-08-2025
- Agriland
Tipperary dairy farmer's long walk for mental health awareness
A Co. Tipperary dairy farmer is undertaking a solo 550km walk of the entire Beara-Breifne Way, Ireland's longest inland trail from west Cork to Cavan in just over two weeks. John Wallace is walking between 30km and 50km a day, embarking on the journey unsupported, carrying his own supplies and relying on the kindness of local communities for food and accommodation. The fundraiser, titled 'Miles for Minds', is being undertaken ahead of the 10th anniversary of the passing of his father, William Wallace who died by suicide in 2015. Source: milesforminds2025 Instagram Wallace began the walk on Tuesday (August 5), with the hope of raising funds and awareness for mental health. He said: "I'm hoping do the Beara-Briefne Way, from Castletownbear to Blacklion in Co. Cavan. It's 550km of a trail which has historical significance to it. "It goes through my own farm which put it in my mind in the first place. I always wanted to do it, and if I ever did I said I'd raise money for mental health charities." Wallace explained how farmers' mood is heavily dependent on the weather, with farmers' morale being particularly low from autumn 2023 until autumn 2024 due to the poor farming year. He said: "In 2024 the mood in farming was very bad, and then in 2025 the mood was good. There's also a lot of external pressures and regulations as well. "Farmer's don't often talk in time, it's a kind of solitary lifestyle and you're not meeting people." The dairy farmer feels that people need to be more open about mental health and lift the stigma about not speaking. Wallace worries that some farmers see it as a 'manly' thing not to speak, and try to carry the weight of the world and get on with it. He said: "Farmers should talk to your neighbouring farmer, or a friend, or call any of the services I'm raising money for." Wallace will donate all funds raised evenly between three mental health charities - Aware, Jigsaw, and Pieta House. He stopped in Ballingeary yesterday (August 7), having walked over 100km. When asked how he was feeling so far, he said: "I'm finding it tough, but the body is starting to get used to it." Source: John Wallace The Tipperary man is seeking overnight support in local towns and villages along the way, and is asking for the offer of a bed, shed, field, meal, or even a cup of tea near any of the towns he is passing through. Full details of how to provide support, and donate to the fundraiser can be found on the 'Miles for Minds' idonate page. So far Wallace has raised over €11,000 and donations can be made up until September 30.
Irish Independent
29-07-2025
- Irish Independent
Mental health service in Limerick looking for volunteers
According to the HSE, one in four Irish people will experience a mental health problem during their lifetime with depression being considered a very common condition affecting 450,000 people or one in ten people at any one time in Ireland alone. Dr Susan Brannick, Clinical Director at Aware told the Irish Independent: 'We're looking for volunteers across our support services, we have three main volunteer-led services that are seeking to recruit people for, the first is our support group, they run across the country, we offer them both virtually and in person and they are facilitated by two volunteers where people can come together for peer support and connection around difficulties like depression and anxiety. "We're also looking to recruit volunteers to our support line so that's online and runs from 10 in the morning til 10 at night offering a space where people can share their difficulties with their mental health and also maybe their concerns about a loved one.' She continued: "Our third service is our life skills online which is our self-help programme which is based on cognitive behavioural therapy principles and the volunteer supports people who do that on a weekly basis for the eight weeks. "There's a variety of different platforms that someone might be able to volunteer with us if they choose to so whether that's in person or on the phone or doing something more online, there will definitely be something to suit you if you're interested.' Aware are looking for people who are over the age of 21 and have about three hours to spare each week. Volunteers are not required to have a background in mental health training or experience as Aware offers over 20 hours of initial training to support people into the role that they choose. Susan said: "Then we offer ongoing support and training, all of our support services have a support manager that supports volunteers as they go through so there's a lot of training that we offer to enable people to do those roles. She continued: "The main thing in being a volunteer is that you have an interest in people, an interest in mental health and a willingness to listen and to allow people that space to talk about their own difficulties.' "We know from the research that being a volunteer and volunteering in and of itself can help your own mental health so there's also benefits to your own mental health as well as the training and support that are available if you do volunteer so I guess if people are interested, maybe having a look at our website would definitely be something that would meet your interests if this is an area of volunteering that appeals to you.' When asked about how the current cost of living, inflation and the housing crisis has affected uptake of various services, Lisa explained that there is a high need for services. She explained: "There's generally a high level of need anyway across the services in Ireland, some volunteers we've had with us for many years, others for one or two years so we ask that people maybe can commit at least 18 months or so. "I think there's an ongoing need for mental health support I suppose as mental health literacy increases, we're becoming better and more able to recognise conditions like depression, anxiety, so I guess it's the more people are more aware of these challenges, the more people, on a positive note are actively seeking help for them so certainly we've come a long way. "Since Aware began 40 years ago, we've certainly come a long way in our ability and willingness maybe to talk about mental health, that's a good thing. "Unfortunately, there's still a high need, people are facing very distinct challenges now maybe more so than 10, 15, 20 years ago so I guess there's an ongoing need for that support.' Susan concluded: "In the health budget, typically about 6 per cent of the health budget is allocated to mental health which is an under-investment really, the World Health Organisation, even Sláintecare would suggest that it should be at least 10-12 per cent of the overall health budget so I guess as long as there's an ongoing under-investment in statutory services there's going to be a continuing need across all the NGOs for ongoing mental health support.' Sláintecare is the HSE and Department of Health's overall improvement plan which outlines their strategies to reform Ireland's health and social care system and act as a pathway to universal healthcare.
