We are proud to announce that Checkmate is a supporter of Check In On A Mate and Project Ireland Run, an initiative to raise funds and awareness for mental health.
Mental health awareness and support remain one of the most underfunded and neglected areas of healthcare in the world.
Global governments allocate an average of 2% of their health budgets to mental health initiatives and services. This is a dismal amount when considering that there are more than 1 billion people worldwide who live with some form of mental health condition.
In Ireland alone, an estimated 500 people die to suicide each year, and out of 8,000 individuals who were surveyed by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) in 2025, 10.4% of adults reported experiencing depression in the past 12 months.
This places the onus on the wider public, individuals, businesses and organisations to do something about it.
Check In On A Mate is doing exactly that. In their latest initiative Project Ireland Run, Founder Patrick (Paddy) McClintock, driven by his compassion for individuals suffering from mental health conditions, is running the length of Ireland from Mizen Head to Portrush – 653 km in 14 days.
A challenge to rise above the inevitable highs and lows of life.
The initiative started on 17 July and ends on 30 July and participants are invited to join a series of 17 marathons at different stages of the route.
Check In On A Mate: A Movement of Hope Birthed from Compassion
CIOAM was originally birthed out of Paddy’s deep compassion and grief of the loss of his two close friends, Olly and Honor, to suicide.
He turned to sport and therapy to process the grief, and it was through his personal healing journey that the vision for the movement came to life.
He started his fundraising efforts for the cause through Ironman challenges and officially launched the movement in September 2024 to raise awareness about mental health.
Their vision is to reduce the number of suicide cases amongst the youth through hosting regular sporting, educational and community events.
“We’re building a movement that proves nobody has to face tough times alone,” he says.
To date their initiatives have impacted the lives of over 300,000 people across the country.
Project Ireland Run: 17 Marathons from Mizen Head to Portrush
Project Ireland Run, the charity’s latest initiative, started in Mizen Head and ends in Portrush. The route spans 15 towns and 653 km.
Paddy has already made his way past the halfway mark and wakes up every day at 5 am to run.
As he makes his way across the length of Ireland, he hopes to inspire people across the globe to press on even when things get tough and to focus on taking the next step.
24 km into the race, he stopped for a break and had a quick radio interview.
When asked about the highs and lows that come with taking on an extreme challenge like long-distance running, he compares it with an ABC system that closely relates with the emotional highs and lows of the human experience.
“In state A, you’re feeling good, everything feels comfortable and relaxed. Then you flow into state B, where you’re not high or low – it feels like being on autopilot. And inevitably, you move into state C, and inevitably there is the C state, it’s lower, you feel fatigued, you feel like every step takes a lot more effort and feels somewhat similar to kind of being depressed in itself and it’s just about holding in there,” says Paddy.
Raising Funds for the Wellbeing of our Youth
The initiative aims to raise £15,000 that will be used to fund the facilitation of mental health and suicide first-aid training at secondary schools and universities.
The aim is to empower students and individuals with the knowledge and tools to take care of their own mental health, identify when a peer is struggling with their mental health and start difficult conversations that can ultimately prevent suicide.
Well over £7,000 has already been raised.
Why Mental Health Matters for Industry Professionals
Wellbeing matters for professionals working across all industries, especially in construction and property. These industries carry some of the highest occupational health risks.
The HSE reports that mental health is the primary driver of work-related ill health, with 964,000 workers experiencing stress, depression or anxiety linked to work between 2024 and 2025.
You can help change this picture by starting to prioritise wellbeing alongside physical safety, and build a healthier, more resilient workforce across every project and policy you touch.
Greg Williams, Area Sales Director (UK) and Global Surety Lead at Checkmate, speaks to why mental health awareness is especially important in the construction industry:
“Construction is a tough industry, and too many people in it carry pressure quietly until it becomes a crisis.”
He adds, “The suicide rate in our sector is far higher than it should be. We work with builders and developers every day, so their wellbeing matters to us, not just their projects. Supporting Project Ireland Run gets people talking, and sometimes one conversation is all it takes.”
What You Can Do to Build a Better Tomorrow
You can be a part of shaping the hearts and minds of the youth who will be empowered to understand the importance of mental health and help prevent suicides.
Make a lasting impact today and follow Paddy’s live Project Ireland journey through Check in On A Mate’s live tracker on their website, join the run and follow them on Instagram.
Project Ireland Run will come to an end, but its message should remain long after Paddy crosses the finish line: always remember to check in on a mate.
Impact lives – support the Project Ireland Run fundraiser.
