Irish Red Cross announce the finalists for annual Humanitarian Awards

The Irish Red Cross announced the finalists for its prestigious 2025 Irish Red Cross Humanitarian Awards.

The annual event celebrates extraordinary individuals and organisations making remarkable contributions to humanitarian causes across Ireland and beyond. 

From a 12-year-old Cavan boy who cycled 123km to raise over €35,000 for cancer support following his mother’s diagnosis, to a solidarity-through-sport initiative that made history with the largest group of asylum seekers to complete a marathon globally, this year’s finalists represent the remarkable spirit of humanitarian service happening in communities across Ireland. 

The awards ceremony will take place on Thursday, 8th May with RTÉ broadcaster Sarah McInerney as Master of Ceremonies. 

On the night, the Irish Red Cross will honour former President of Ireland Mary Robinson with a special Lifetime Achievement Award for her decades of work advancing human rights, climate justice, and humanitarian causes globally. 

“These awards shine a light on the exceptional humanitarian work happening in communities across Ireland and internationally,” said Deirdre Garvey, Secretary General of the Irish Red Cross.

“Each finalist has demonstrated extraordinary commitment to making our world more compassionate, just, and equitable.” 

Finalists for the Irish Red Cross Humanitarian of the Year Award, the most prestigious individual category: 

• Angela Hayes from Kilkenny/Laois, founder of Teac Tom (The Thomas Hayes Trust), providing immediate walk-in crisis intervention, counselling, and family support for those affected by suicide and mental health challenges. In 2024 alone, Teac Tom delivered nearly 5,000 therapy sessions while raising €300,000 annually to maintain these critical services. 
• Lora Ruth Wogu from Dublin, founder of Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia Ireland and Migrant Health Alliance Ireland, who has advocated for 14 years for patients with these conditions while balancing professional healthcare work and caring for her son with multiple disabilities. Her organisations focus on improving migrants’ healthcare access and integration.
• Joe Mason from Dublin, CEO of WALK for 28 years, has been supporting people with intellectual disabilities. When war broke out in Ukraine, Joe responded to a desperate email from a Ukrainian mother named Olena by loading a minibus with supplies and driving to the conflict zone to evacuate her daughter with severe disabilities. What began as one rescue mission expanded to saving six vulnerable families, delivering ambulances and critical supplies to frontline communities, and navigating dangerous border crossings. His advocacy led to Olena becoming the first Ukrainian woman to address an Oireachtas committee on the challenges faced by disabled refugees. 

Finalists for the Irish Red Cross Young Humanitarian Award: 

• Lauren Jones Brennan (22) from Blanchardstown, Dublin, serves as a UN Youth Delegate advocating for youth rights, climate action, and gender equality at international forums. Lauren has co-drafted UN youth resolutions, secured funding for Global South delegates, and raised €27,000 for poverty alleviation efforts. 
• Shane Gavin (16) from Clare, who travelled 3,000km to Ukraine with his father to deliver their family 4×4 to the Sunflower Foundation for humanitarian use. In just three months, Shane helped source and ship four truckloads of humanitarian aid from Clare to Ukraine. Ukrainian partners specifically noted that seeing a teenager make such a journey at a time when global attention was waning gave them renewed hope to continue their life-saving work on the frontlines. 
• Ebere Edeh from Maynooth, Kildare, whose campaign secured free sustainable menstrual products for over 15,000 university students. Ebere developed workshops on intersectionality, organised panel discussions on period poverty, and has been nominated for multiple activism awards, including Activist of the Year at Black and Irish 2024. 
• Billy Lord (12) from Cavan, who cycled 123km from The Beacon Hospital in Dublin to Cuan Cancer Support Centre, raising an astonishing €35,284 after witnessing the support his family received during his mother’s cancer treatment. Starting with a modest goal of €1,000, Billy’s determination captured the heart of the community, resulting in a fundraising total that exceeded his original target by over 3,500%. 

Finalists for the Irish Red Cross Humanitarian Journalist Award: 

• Luke Butterly from Northern Ireland, an investigative journalist with The Detail, whose reporting has exposed systematic injustices facing marginal communities, including how the PSNI shared data on migrant victims with the Home Office and discrimination against Irish Travellers. 
• Freya McClements, Northern Editor of The Irish Times, has consistently highlighted untold stories of people affected by the Northern Ireland Troubles and challenged the controversial Legacy Act, documenting the ongoing humanitarian impact on victims of conflict. 
• Amy Ní Riada, whose dedicated reporting on humanitarian crises in East Africa has brought international attention to communities affected by climate-exacerbated flooding, resulting in significant donations to local charities supporting displaced families. 
• Sorcha Pollak of The Irish Times, whose decade-long coverage of immigration in Ireland has given voice to asylum seekers and migrants. Her investigations have revealed unsafe conditions in accommodation centres and documented attacks on vulnerable individuals. 

Finalists for the Irish Red Cross Corporate Impact Award: 

• Allied Irish Bank (AIB), whose partnership with the GOAL Mile fundraiser has increased funds raised by 180%, generating €753,000 in 2024 alone. Their “Step Up Together” campaign expanded GOAL Mile locations by 26% while leveraging AIB’s nationwide branch network to maximise community engagement.
• Allianz, committed €1 million to tackling domestic abuse through a three-year partnership with Women’s Aid. Their innovative campaigns, “The World’s Strongest Women” and “The Dead Flower Shop” have raised awareness about domestic violence while providing practical support both externally and for their own employees.
• Future of Ukrainian Nation in Kerry, the first Ukrainian public organisation in the county, supports integration while maintaining cultural connections and contributing to local development through various initiatives supporting displaced Ukrainian families. 

Finalists for the Irish Red Cross Community Organisation Award: 

• Sanctuary Runners, founded in Cork and now operating across 40 locations nationwide, uses running, jogging, and walking to unite asylum seekers, refugees, migrants, and Irish residents. In October 2024, they made history at the Dublin Marathon when their team of 70 runners included 25 individuals seeking international protection in Ireland—marking the largest group of asylum seekers to complete a full marathon globally. Their diverse team, with members from countries including Botswana, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe, and Ukraine, demonstrated how sport can create powerful bonds of solidarity across cultural differences. 
• Ukrainian Action in Ireland, which has delivered over 1,000 tonnes of humanitarian aid to Ukraine, including 19 ambulances and 35 power stations. Their network of hundreds of volunteers organises educational, cultural, and mental health activities for the Ukrainian community while raising awareness through media channels reaching over 100,000 people. 
• Blood Bikes East, providing free emergency medical transport services throughout Dublin and surrounding areas. Their volunteers transport blood products, breast milk, and medical supplies while supporting 18 families with children undergoing life-threatening treatments by facilitating home testing transport. 

The Irish Red Cross Humanitarian Awards celebrate extraordinary individuals and organisations demonstrating exceptional humanitarian service, compassion, and resilience.

The awards recognise contributions across multiple categories and aim to inspire continued humanitarian action throughout Ireland and beyond. 

“What makes these awards particularly special is the diversity of our finalists,” added Ms Garvey.

“Their stories remind us that humanitarian action takes many forms and can begin at any age and in any community across Ireland.” 

*This article was originally published on BusinessPlus.ie.