Irish Olympic Legend Danny McDaid has been confirmed as the Special Guest of the 26th annual North West 10k.
Danny will officially fire the starting gun to send the runners and walkers off on the 10k which takes place on Monday week the 1st of May in Letterkenny.
The charity event has raised €903,000 over the past 25 years for 38 charities and this year the beneficiaries will be St. Bernadette’s Special School Letterkenny, Multiple Sclerosis Donegal Branch and the Letterkenny Community Development Project.
Neily McDaid (Head Steward), Danny McDaid and Nancy MacNamee (Vice-Chairperson)
Danny McDaid has been a big supporter of the North West 10k since it began in 1997 and has another very special connection with the event through his involvement with the Donegal Diabetes Association who have benefitted from the fundraiser on a couple of occasions including last year when it received €22,000.
He said: “It’s a great honour for me to be asked to be the special guest to be there at the start line to get the runners and walkers on their way in this year’s North West 10k. I have many great memories of the 10k over the years, first when it was the Rockhill 10k and then North West. Because I was competing internationally I didn’t get a chance to take part that much. I do remember a Rockhill 10k in the mid-90s when I was 57. Shaun Doherty of Highland Radio was out broadcasting. He asked me before the race what time was I hoping to do. I said I hoped to break 34 minutes. I did it in 33.50.”
The course record of 29 minutes and 14 seconds was set by Noel Berkeley in 1998. Danny McDaid says the North West 10k has been a remarkable fundraiser for so many charities.
“It’s been a brilliant fundraiser for lots of charities and to see it break the €900,000 mark last year was fantastic. I have been involved with the Donegal Diabetes Association for many years. I first got involved when family members were diagnosed and we have been fortunate enough to be a benefitting charity on a couple of occasions.
“Last year we were there and were presented with a cheque for €22,000 and two other charities with us got a similar amount. Raising €66,000 in 2022 was down to the hard work of all the charities and the committee 10k.
“The North West 10k Committee is a voluntary organisation that has provided great opportunities for charities to raise much needed money since it started in 1997. I would like to commend the different committees down the years that have been organising the 10k. Work has been going on into the planning of this for many months.
“I would like to wish the committee well with this year’s event and I would ask the public to get behind the three charities. Enter as a runner or walker. It’s always a great community event and a great way to meet people.
“The three charities this year do so much good work. I want to wish all the very best to St. Bernadette’s Special School Letterkenny, Multiple Sclerosis Donegal Branch and the Letterkenny Community Development Project” Danny said.
North West 10k Chairperson Neil Martin said that having Danny McDaid as the special guest was very fitting as one of Donegal’s sporting greats. He said: “Danny McDaid needs no introduction. His athletic achievements have been legendary on the international stage but he has always been a huge supporter of local charity running events with the North West 10k being at the top of the pile. As he has said himself there is a special bond with the 10k through his own involvement with the Donegal Diabetes group who have benefitted from our event a couple of times. The Committee is delighted that Danny has accepted our invitation to fire the starting gun on Monday week the 1st of May” Mr Martin said.
Glenswilly native Danny McDaid is a two-time Irish Olympic athlete and four times national marathon champion.
He competed for Ireland at two Olympic Games, Munich 1972 and Montreal 1976. He was the first Irishman to cross the finish line at the 1972 games. Danny took part in nine World Championships, first competing for Ireland in the International Cross Country Championships in Madrid in 1969. He finished 11th in Limerick in 1979 when John Treacy lifted the world title for Ireland. Danny was captain of the Irish Senior Cross Country team from 1975 to 1981.
The running track at the Letterkenny Regional Sports and Leisure Complex is named in his honour as is the Danny McDaid 15k, which begins and concludes at this track.
A retired postman, he has been a stalwart of Letterkenny Athletic Club since it was formed over 50 years ago. Married to Kathleen the couple have three daughters. Orla, Niamh, Ciara and a son Darragh.
The 26th North West 10k takes place on the Bank Holiday Monday, May 1st in Letterkenny with an 11 a.m. start time.
Runners and Walkers can register online now via the following link https://www.njuko.net/nw_10k_2023. or go to www.northwest10k.com
