Circle K store in Kilkenny donates €7,500 Lotto winnings to mental health charity Teac Tom

Circle K has announced that its colleagues at the store in Waterford Road, Kilkenny, have donated €7,500 to local mental health charity, Teac Tom.

The store won the funds as prize money for selling a Lotto jackpot ticket earlier this year and have donated their winnings to Teac Tom.

Teac Tom is a mental health charity that provides counselling and support services to those in the local community struggling with their mental health. Currently, Teac Tom provides 80-100 free sessions of counselling per week.

As well as individual counselling, the charity also provides group therapy for family and friends, sibling support groups and play therapy.

Teac Tom receives no government funding and relies on the generous support of individuals, community groups and businesses. The donation from Circle K will provide 150 hours of counselling by the charity’s professional and fully accredited team to those in the community.

Marie Richards, Site Manager at Circle K Waterford Road, said: “Finding out we sold a winning Lotto jackpot ticket back in April was a moment myself and my colleagues will never forget. When we found out we had won our own prize, we unanimously agreed that we wanted to donate the money to a local cause that was important to us.

“Teac Tom provides a vital service to the local community and, following the impact Covid-19 has had on fundraising efforts, needs our help more than ever. I’d like to extend my thanks to the National Lottery and to my colleagues for their support in making this donation happen.”

Angela Hayes, Founder of Teac Tom, said: “We are truly delighted and grateful to be receiving this donation and thank the team at Circle K Waterford Road wholeheartedly for thinking of Teac Tom.

Fundraising activities have been impacted by the pandemic, and generous donations like this really do mean the world and allow us to continue to offer our services to the local community.”

Caption: Pictured are Angela Hayes, founder of Teac Tom, Marie Richards, site manager of Circle K Waterford Road and Circle K colleague, Christopher announcing that Circle K Waterford Road has donated €7,500 to mental health charity, Teac Tom.