Maxol has enlisted Jacob Stockdale as brand ambassador for its annual charity Christmas fundraiser for Aware.

The forecourt and convenience retailer is hoping to raise more than €70,000 for the mental health charity over the next eight weeks.

10 cents from every cup of ROSA coffee and all hot drinks bought during November and December will be donated by Maxol to the charity, which is facing serious funding challenges at a time when demand on its services has increased significantly, as a direct result of the pandemic.

Over the past eight months, Aware has seen a 60 per cent increase in calls to its Support Line, highlighting the impact of the pandemic and related socioeconomic factors on public wellbeing.

Almost 4,000 people have availed of Aware’s online positive mental health programme.

Supported

The 2020 Christmas campaign is being supported by Stockdale, who had to face the media as part of the promotion, fresh from criticism of how he had played in Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations defeat to France.

He did manage to get things in perspective. “This year has been a particularly tough time for a lot of people, many of whom are finding it difficult to cope right now,” he said.

“We cannot underestimate the importance of the work that Aware does, not just over the past eight months, but every day for the past 35 years.”

“I would ask everyone who can, to get behind Aware and get out and support this campaign and let your cup of coffee make a difference.”

“We have always known just how vital a service Aware has provided to the people and communities it supports right across Ireland,” added Maxol CEO Brian Donaldson.

Surge in Demand

“But nothing could have prepared the charity for the surge in demand for its services and the corresponding fall in its funding thrown up by the pandemic.”

“That is why we have set an ambitious fundraising target for 2020; arguably the most important and critical in this campaign’s four-year history.”

Aware has been operating in Ireland since 1985 Ireland and has a network of online and face-to-face1 support groups across the country, as well as delivering mental health and wellbeing programmes into communities, schools, colleges, universities and workplaces.

“Our income has been significantly impacted this year as a result of the pandemic and we are facing into an uncertain 2021,” said Drew Flood.

“This financial challenge is within the context of a dramatic increase in demand for our services and we expect demand for our services to remain high as we all adjust to the socioeconomic impacts of Covid-19. This year we will be relying heavily on Maxol’s Christmas campaign to boost much-needed funds to ensure we can continue to deliver our essential services nationwide.”

The money raised by the Maxol campaign will go towards Aware providing support, education, and information for people impacted by depression, bipolar disorder and mood related conditions.

Sport for Business Partners