Our Chosen Charity

We are delighted that our charity partner for the weddingsonline Awards is HUGG.

HUGG is the national suicide bereavement support organisation, whose mission is to bring hope and healing to anyone who has lost a loved one to suicide. HUGG was founded in 2017 by Fiona Tuomey, following the devastating death by suicide of her 11-year-old daughter Milly.

Experiencing a deep need to speak to people who truly understood what she was going through, Fiona searched for a support group for people impacted by suicide led by those who had a lived experience of suicide, but none existed.

Driven by a desire to fill this gap and ensure that no one bereaved by suicide would have to go without support, Fiona set up HUGG's first support group in 2017. The demand for more groups quickly became clear, and HUGG was established as a registered charity in 2018, on Milly's birthday.

HUGG now has 17 peer support groups in 14 counties around Ireland as well as two virtual groups, a telephone support service, and a wealth of information and resources at HUGG.ie. They hold public events and webinars and provide bespoke suicide bereavement information sessions for companies, teams and clubs.

To learn more about HUGG's work, contact Mary Anne Stokes, Donor Development & Partnerships Manager, at maryanne@hugg.ie.