Inishowen’s Michael Doherty (Turas) is starting the New Year on the right foot with a charity challenge inspired by a close friend.
Michael has set out to run 100 miles in a month to support the Mater Foundation and their life-saving services.
Michael’s plan of running 25 miles each week in February is no mean feat, but the Gleneely man saw the challenge as the perfect opportunity to give back to the Dublin hospital that saved his family friend, Kerry Reidy McLaughlin (Frazer).
Michael told Donegal Daily: “It all started back four years ago, we were away on a family skiing holiday. A friend of Kerry’s contacted us to say she’d taken ill and was being prayed for at Mass. We talked about coming home. It was death’s door for her.
“Thankfully, Kerry got the treatment that she needed, thanks to the Mater medical teams. She recovered and can go about her daily duties with no problem whatsoever. She still has treatment and minor operations but we are grateful that the Mater is there for her,” he said.
Michael’s family and Kerry’s family have always been closely linked – their children grew up together and they are both heavily involved in the local community in Culdaff and Bocan.
“It was an absolutely horrible thing to see Kerry so sick. Thankfully it was all okay in the end,” Michael said.
Michael has now begun training for his month of running and fundraising, with the help of Kerry and veteran fundraiser Norah McGrenaghan.
He is no stranger to the roads, having done his first marathon in 2016, but he’ll be out again throughout January to get himself back to full fitness to complete the task.
“There’ll be no bluffing about the miles!” Michael promises, “There is a closed Facebook group for runners all over Ireland and we have to provide evidence of our progress.”
All the while, Michael is asking for support and donations via a Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/donate/638574059933916/
The fund smashed the initial €750 target in just a few days and he has now raised the bar in the hope of collecting as much as possible to improve patient care for all at the Mater Hospital.
Michael is aiming to put his best foot forward for February’s challenge. He hopes the idea will spark interest from other local runners or others who want to set a good New Year’s Resolution for charity next year.
Keep an eye on Michael’s page https://www.facebook.com/donate/638574059933916/ for more updates on local fundraising events before and during February.
Tags: