Pals in training for five-heads run in aid of cancer charities

By Paddy Mulchrone

FIVE West Cork women have set themselves a tough challenge to raise thousands of euro for charity.

The intrepid pals from Crookhaven and Goleen will run from the tip of Kerry to the toe of Cork across five peninsulas in a four-day relay fundraising for cancer, and the region’s Feel Good youth programme.

The 330km, ‘5 For Life’ challenge this summer will be undertaken by Crookhaven Inn manager Emma Jepson and local friends Carolyn Daly, Gillian Newman, Nuala Hodnett and Karen Hegarty.

The five will set out from Tarbert in Kerry on June 20th, each running 18km a day, and take in Dingle, Killarney and Clonakilty before inviting friends and supporters to join them running and walking from Schull and Goleen on the final leg to Crookhaven on Saturday June 23rd.

They hope to raise thousands for hospices in Marymount and Bantry and West Cork’s Feel Good Youth Programme. They have already attracted major sponsors in car dealers Noel Deasy, who will provide two back-up vehicles, and Engineering Systems International of Cork. 

Magda O’Driscoll’s Crookhaven Art studio has provided promotional artwork.

The five have varying levels of experience from regular runner Emma, to Gillian who has completed the Dublin marathon, Carolyn and Nuala who have each done half marathons, to Karen, who last year cycled the length of Ireland from Malin to Mizen for charity. ‘We just wanted to put our running experience to good use, raise money for worthwhile causes and achieve something as well,’ said Emma, from Crookhaven.

‘We are already training and have had some sound coaching advice from Dingle’s Shane Finn, who did 24 marathons in 24 days last year. Now we want to get the word so people can donate on route or online.’

The girls have also recruited a back-up team of Jackie Maguire, Claire Barrett, Noel Maguire and Jimmy Newman to drive the support vehicles. Emma’s Crookhaven Inn will be hosting a pub quiz on Sunday, March 18th in aid of the same charities and a coffee morning and other events are also planned. The five are still looking for more sponsors, promising publicity and prestige for their investment. Contact them via their ‘5 for Life’ Facebook page or to donate online see gofundme.com.