Getting ready to 'Run for the Cure' are Sonya, Sean and Ena Tobin.

Paddy Tobin Perpetual Trophy in 'Run for the Cure'

Navan’s Blackwater Park is to feature in a 5k run on 26th July next when the ‘Run for the Cure’ takes place to benefit the Irish Cancer Society.
The Tobin family is organising the run in memory of Paddy Tobin of Proudstown Road, who died last November at the age of 61, 10 months after being diagnosed with a rare type of blood cancer.
There will be two runs - a juvenile race of one kilometre for the under 12s, taking place at 10.30am; and the 5k at 11am. However, if a child feels they can take on the 5k, there’s nothing preventing that, Sonya Tobin Reilly explains.
The 5k will feature the Paddy Tobin Memorial Trophy. There will be prizes for the first six seniors, first two over-40, over-45 and over-50, and the first three juniors under 19. All who take part in the juvenile race will get medals. Entry for the juvenile race is €5 and the adult, €15, and €10 for under-19s. Those in the adult race will get Technical T-shirts, chip timing, post race refreshments and live music.
The route will take in the Ratholdren Road, Flower Hill, Proudstown Road and the Clonnmagadden Road back to the Blackwater Park.
Sonya says that there is something for everyone in the walk, and that people can run, walk or sprint.
Her father’s experience of suffering with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia has influenced her to organise this event, as funds raised will go to cancer research and education programmes that are having an impact.
She says: “Cancer is a disease that knows no boundaries, does not distinguish between sex, race or class, and has or will affect us all either directly or indirectly during our lifetime.
“The painful and often harrowing plight of cancer like Paddy’s drives me to embark upon a major fundraising programme,” she says, adding that all monies raised will go directly to research, as the costs of organising the race have been covered by sponsorship. The race is supported by the Irish Cancer Society, Navan Athletic Club, Meath County Council, Navan Gardai and Athletics Ireland.
“We are working to stop more people dying of cancer, and even working to stop people developing cancer in the first place,” she says.
 “Latest figures show over 29,000 people in Ireland will develop cancer this year. On average, three children are diagnosed with cancer each week, that is over 150 new cases a year.”
Paddy Tobin was only 61 when he died last November. The retired Telecom Eireann employee, died less than a year after being diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia. He had been involved in running Meath Cleaning Supplies and Services with his wife, Mary.
A native of Edenburt, Lisduff, Virginia, Paddy was a regular on Cavan senior panels during the 1970s, even getting his place on the team when work meant he wasn’t always around for training. He was part of a Mullagh combination that won the Cavan minor championship. He won a Cavan junior medal with his club Maghera McFinns in 1973 and followed this up by winning an intermediate medal in ‘74.
That same year, an amalgamation of Maghera, Virginia Blues and Lurgan, titled Ramor, won the Cavan senior football championship. Left footed Tobin who often alternated between midfield and the half forward line was one of the stars. During the late 1990s he became very active in the underage section of Simonstown GFC, when son Sean was playing.
Details of the Navan event on 26th July are on www.runforthecure5k.ie