'First Facebook pic' craze turns into mental health charity appeal
By now, you'll have noticed the new trend on Facebook for posting your very first Facebook profile photo again for all to mock and praise.
Thousands of Facebook users in Ireland have been joining in on what started as a funny and slightly embarrassing trip down memory lane. But, over the past couple of days, the craze has been reimagined as a charity appeal for Mental Health Ireland .
If you're sharing your first Facebook profile picture don't forget to donate €4 to Mental Health Ireland by texting MHI to 50300
— Maria E. Daly (@MiaDaly) January 14, 2015
While it's unclear who turned the photo fad into a way to raise both money and awareness for the Irish mental health charity, the campaign is growing - and Mental Health Ireland are both surprised and delighted.
Huge thank you to the facebookers donating €4 to us by texting MHI to 50300 as part of the First Facebook Photo trend!
— Mental Health IRL (@MentalHealthIrl) January 13, 2015
In a post on their website, they write:
"All the staff at Mental Health Ireland want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has donated via text over the past two days. Our donations have seen a sizable increase and we are so amazed at the number of people who have donated so far.
"We have also seen an increase in our paypal donations from our home page on our website and presume this must be donations from Irish people living abroad who are unable to text.
"The money raised will go straight into our Mental Health Awareness programme and will provide Training Bursaries for people undertaking mental health awarenss training."
So keep sharing those Facebook photos for all to see and don't forget to donate €4 to Mental Health Ireland - just text 'MHI' to 50300.
