Remote walk/run challenge raises €6,500 for hospital
By Aideen O'Flaherty
HUNDREDS of people took part in a remote running and walking challenge last May and collectively clocked up a total distance of 3,171km – equivalent to the entire coastline of Ireland – and raised €6,500 for Tallaght University Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit, in memory of John Breen.
Jennifer Breen, 28, from Springfield, and her four siblings, who live across the border in Lurgan, joined forces in early May to all walk and run several distances with a target of 761km – the length of Ireland – throughout the month of May in memory of her father.
Jennifer Breen, Danielle Ryan, Leanne Kennedy and TUHF's Kelly Crowley
These family walks and runs then culminated in a hugely successful, day-long remote event on May 23, where the Breens’ friends and family went walking and running in their local areas.
The participants then logged the distance with Jennifer, and surpassed the original target distance on May 23, marking the five-month anniversary of Jennifer’s father’s passing.
The family decided to organise the challenge to raise funds for the staff of Tallaght University Hospital’s ICU, as they looked after John when he passed away last December at age 73, after succumbing to a sudden illness.
“The staff there looked after us as much as they looked after my dad,” said Jennifer.
People north and south of the border laced up their running shoes on May 23, and the Armagh contingent, who reached a total of 1,347km, were pipped to the post by the Dublin participants, who logged a total of 1,350km on that day.
However, over the course of the entire challenge, which the Breen family did for 30 days, a total distance of 3,171km was logged.
“It was really overwhelming,” Jennifer explained. “I had support from my whole camogie team in Thomas Davis, friends that I went to school with in St Mark’s, and friends I went to college with in Maynooth who are all over the country.
“I did the last kilometre on my own, and it was very emotional.
“Afterwards, it turned out that my brother, his wife, and my sister had all finished at the exact same time.
“We spoke to each other on Facetime afterwards, and we were saying how proud our dad would be, that we’d actually done it.
“He’d be so proud to know that we’d all done this, I think he would’ve been really pleased.”
Jennifer handed over the cheque for €6,500 to the Tallaght University Hospital Foundation on Friday, and hopes the funds will help other families whose loved ones are receiving treatment.
“Hopefully the money will be put to good use, and will make a difference to the people in the ICU and their families,” she said.
“It was emotional, but I was happy to be able to finally hand over the cheque – it was kind of a surreal moment.”
She added: “The people who took part, and my friends and family, have all been fantastic. We’re all thrilled with how it went.”
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