A support group for the families of missing people is planning a cycling event to raise awareness.
Missing in Ireland Support Service (Miss) has called for volunteers to take part in the "Missing Miles" event on October 14th and 15th.
It will start at Naas, Co Kildare, and travel on to Moone, where it will pause to remember Jo Jo Dullard, from Callan, Co Kilkenny, who was sighted at a phone box in Moone before she went missing in November, 1995. It will continue to Tullamore, Co Offaly, to meet Fiona Pender's family. Ms Pender (25) was seven months pregnant when she went missing 10 years ago last week.
The voluntary group is hoping to highlight the disappearance of other missing people from the Kildare and midlands region. Trevor Deely (22), from Naas, went missing in Dublin city centre in December, 2000 while Deirdre Jacob (18), from Newbridge, went missing while walking near her home in July 1998.
The group said it was organising the cycle to raise awareness of the number of missing people in the State. Thousands of people are reported as missing every year.
Dermot Browne, chairman of Miss, said the event would also highlight the lack of a helpline for the families of missing people.
Victim Support ran a helpline until its State funding was cut in March, 2005. Mr Browne said the lack of a helpline for families was unacceptable.
"If something happens to anyone belonging to you, you are alone. You will not know where to go for help," he said.
Where missing people were over 18, gardaí have told the relatives that the person is entitled to go missing.
Miss is now drawing up a proposal to run a State-funded helpline for missing people. Mr Browne said the group would be lodging the submission to the Department of Justice in the coming weeks.
Cycle event details are on www.miss.ie
