One of Ireland’s top vloggers and authors was among those honoured at the Concern Volunteer Awards on Saturday after she raised over €9,000 for people in Afghanistan.
Melanie Murphy, a bestselling author and YouTube star with over 850,000 social media followers, received the Fundraising Newcomer Award for her efforts at a ceremony in the Dublin office of the humanitarian organisation Concern Worldwide.
“I feel deeply honoured to receive Concern’s fundraising newcomer award for raising over €9,000 in a week via Instagram stories towards survival kits for people in Afghanistan,” said Ms Murphy.
“Evidently, I wasn’t the only person moved to act by the images of a little baby being passed over a wall to U.S troops outside the Kabul airport.
“This award will serve as a reminder to me of the power that we all have to really help others in need through social media. It isn’t all filters and fluff.
“When a charity like Concern makes it so easy to donate, people will do the right thing if the ability to help is put right in front of them.”
Melanie was one of 31 people or groups honoured by Concern at their annual event, which celebrates the vital contribution made by the charity’s 1,500 volunteers in Ireland.
