Joan Freeman, Founder and CEO of Pieta House, will be one of the 40 Irish Olympic Torch Bearers when the 2012 Olympic Torch Relay reaches Dublin on 6th June. Joan was selected to participate in the relay by Electric Ireland, Official Energy Partner to Team Ireland.

"I'm honoured that Electric Ireland has nominated Pieta House as its chosen representative for the Torch Relay," said Joan Freeman. "It's so significant that a suicide charity has been asked to bear the Olympic Torch as it shows how high on the agenda suicide is in Ireland at the moment. I strongly believe that this would never have happened six years ago when Pieta House first started out, and it really shows how far we’ve come as a society," she said.

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Pieta House has a long standing relationship with ESB through their ElectricAid Ireland charity programme, whereby ESB has provided over €7 million in funding to charities focused on suicide prevention and homelessness over the past seven years.

Commenting on the announcement, Brid Horan, Executive Director Electric Ireland, said; "As one of the main sponsors of Team Ireland for the forthcoming Olympics, the Olympic Council of Ireland provided us with the wonderful opportunity to nominate a representative to take part in the Torch Run. Given that the Torch Run is a symbol of hope and inspiration we invited Joan Freeman, CEO of Pieta House to represent Electric Ireland. Hopefully this will highlight the continuing need to focus on suicide prevention in Ireland, particularly given the challenges in the current environment. Through ESB’s ElectricAid programme we have a longstanding relationship with Pieta House and greatly admire their tremendous work in suicide prevention."

Joan Freeman is one of several non-sporting Torch Bearers who have been selected in acknowledgement of their vital work in the area of social change.

(CD/GK)