Derek O'Keane and James Finneran ran in the Dublin marathon on October 26
Support for the Vine Group’s ‘Help Us Help others’ campaign
THE Tallaght-based Vine Mass Group were “privileged and thankful” that Derek O’Keane contributed to the ‘Help Us Help Others’ campaign last year, with hopes that he will do so again this year.
As part of the Vine Group’s ‘Help Us Help Others 2025’ campaign, Derek O’Keane ran the Dublin City marathon on Sunday, October 26, and John Caffrey will be doing a nighttime walk on November 8.
Derek is a seasoned runner who has run multiple Dublin city marathons but also multiple marathons around Ireland and even London; he has also run many mountain trail runs and park runs.
On the day of the marathon, Derek finished in 4 hours and 12 minutes, which was slower than his time last year due to an injury he was carrying and the lacklustre weather conditions.
The Vine Group is “still very thankful”, according to Joe, for Derek running the marathon for their ‘Help Us Help Others’ campaign, and they wish him luck for the London Marathon, which he will be running for the first time next year.
Meanwhile, John Caffrey will take part in a ‘Walk Into The Night’ through the Wicklow Mountains on November 8.
The walk will be 25 kilometres with a climb of 800 metres.
John is a member of the Vine Group who works closely with Saint Vincent de Paul to get money to families who need extra help.
John also connects with the schools who receive a donation from the Vine Group to be used for children who can’t afford trips, outings, sports equipment, etc.
John also arranges the free bus to Glendalough during holy week and oversees the trip.
All money raised through various fundraising activities will be distributed this Christmas with help from 10 conferences of SVP to 40 families in the Tallaght area and a donation to schools in the Tallaght area.
It is the group’s hope that “we can raise as much as possible through these two sponsors’ activities.”
This is especially important this year, as for the first time since the launch of the ‘Help Us Help Others’ campaign, The Square was unable to offer the Vine Group a bucket collection slot during December.
This means a “very sizeable” shortfall from previous years, which was equal to 16 families, so the group are hoping to raise as much as possible through Derek’s marathon run and John’s midnight trek.
There are sponsor cards in St Mark’s church in Springfield, the church of the Incarnation in Fettercairn and St Aidan’s church in Brookfield.
People can also donate through the group’s GoFundMe page; all money raised goes to people in need, as The Vine Group is a non-profit church and community group.
John’s walk starts on Saturday, November 8, at 2:45pm at Laragh car park and winds its way through Glendalough and over the mountains to Glenmalure; it is only available for preregistered entrants.
Congratulations to Derek on a successful run in the marathon.
For more information check the Vine Group’s Facebook and Instagram pages or email them at vinemass@gmail.com
