A MAJOR new fund-raising initiative has been launched in Letterkenny to support The LOFT youth centre and hopes to see local people giving their town a hug! In a venture supported by Letterkenny Chamber of Commerce and ShopLK are proud to support the LOFT have come up with a unique summer fund raising activity. This year the increasingly popular Letterkenny Live event will takes place on August 3 and 4 and will incorporate Party in The Park organised by Donegal Youth Service. However, this year there will be a new dimension. The young people involved in The Loft came up with the great idea of giving Letterkenny a hug. A spokesperson for the LOFT explained: “Over the weeks running up to the August Bank Holiday weekend we’re asking people to buy a wrist band for €2. These will be available in various retail outlets. Then on August 3, we’ll link hands and give Letterkenny the biggest hug possible.” Chamber CEO Toni Forrester, stated: “We’ve worked with the Loft and Donegal Youth Service in the past and always tried to support their activities. ShopLK has really taken off and we know that lots of young people like to buy and receive the vouchers so when we were approached to get involved in this inventive idea we were delighted. “Over the summer ShopLK gets involved in many activities and the bank holiday weekend with Letterkenny Live and Party in The Park was a perfect match. We’re calling on young and old to get involved and on August 3 we’ll aim to have enough people to hug Letterkenny.” The LOFT is open to all young people aged between 12 and 18. Based on the Port Road in Letterkenny it is a place where young people can avail of a wide range of facilities including Group work programmes, Health Information and Education, Drop-in centre, Listening ear service. It also offers opportunities to learn new skills, entertainment events and it’s a great place to meet friends. John Muldowney, Foroige youth project worker at Loft LK said everyone is excited about this summer project. “Who doesn’t like a hug. The young people who use the services here came up with this idea and we are all excited by it. It helps us raise the profile of The LOFT locally and have fun along the way. On the day we hope to get everyone involved so get your wristband and join in the biggest hug Letterkenny has ever seen.” John Watson, President of Letterkenny Chamber says of the initiative: “It is great to see young people involved in initiatives such as this. Accommodation is already filling up well for the Bank Holiday weekend so the town will be buzzing. I’ve got my wrist band and am looking forward to being part of the big Letterkenny Hug.”