Michelle Rafferty in GOAL's head office in Dublin

Run a mile for GOAL this Christmas

Lobinstown native, Michelle Rafferty is urging people from all over Meath to run a Mile for GOAL this Christmas, and help raise as much money and awareness as possible for the aid agency’s work in the developing world.

The GOAL Mile is held in villages, towns and cities all over Ireland every Christmas and is one of the country’s biggest and longest-running annual fundraising events. The concept is simple: people run or walk a Mile and donate whatever they can afford to GOAL on the day.

Thanks to GOAL Mile organisers and participants, millions have been raised to support GOAL’s work in the developing world since the first Mile was held in 1982.

 “I have been working with GOAL in Sierra Leone for the past 18 months. Being a member of one of our teams on the ground has given me an even greater understanding of the impact our aid programmes are having on the people we support in this part of the world,” says Michelle. “I would encourage everyone in Meath to take part in a GOAL Mile this year, and donate whatever they can affords towards GOAL. Every cent makes a difference.”

Meath GOAL  Miles will take place at Darnley Hotel, Main Street, Athboy on December 25th from 10.15am; Gael Colmcille GAA Grounds, Grangegodden, Athboy Road on December 25th from 11am to midday; Claremont Athletic Club Stadium, Navan on December 25th from 10 to 11.30am; St Patricks GAA Grounds, Stamullen on January 1st  from midday to 1:30pm; Baconstown GAA Pitch, Enfield on December 25th from midday to 1pm; Kiltale GAA Club on December 25th; and St Colmcille GAA Grounds, Bettystown on December 25th from 11am.

GOAL has also established a new GOAL Mile page on their website that includes a global map of locations and a celebrity Mile leaderboard, where runners can compare their best Mile times against some of Ireland’s top sporting stars, including Eamon Coghlan and Alan Brogan.

The aid agency is hoping this year’s Miles will help highlight their emergency response programme in The Philippines, where they are delivering food and shelter to tens of thousands of people who lost their homes and possessions in last month’s typhoon.

If you would like to organise your own GOAL Mile event, please email Cathy at fundraising@goal.ie, or telephone 01-2809 779. To take part in a GOAL Mile near you, please visit the GOAL Mile webpage at www.goal.ie.