600 entrants in the pink and ready for the off!

With almost 600 entrants now signed up, the first Kells Pink Ribbon Walk in aid of Action Breast Cancer this coming Saturday looks set to be a great success and one of the biggest events of its kind ever held in County Meath. Entries have now closed and there will be no facility to register on the day of the event. A pre-event evening will take place in the Headfort Arms Hotel, Kells, from 6pm to 9pm this Friday, where participants can drop in and collect their race number and donate their sponsorship money while also enjoying a complimentary glass of wine. The Pink Ribbon event takes place from Drewstown House and around Girley Bog, west of Kells. There will be a run with about 60 participants taking place at 1pm and the 10k walk will commence at 3pm. All entrants must sign in beforehand and collect their race number. RTE presenter Bryan Dobson will be on hand to launch the run, while personal trainer Sidney Brito will lead the crowd in an aerobic warm-up. Entrants will quench their thirst with up to 2,000 bottles of water and keep their energy up with 700 cereal bars and 500 chocolate bars, as well as 600 burgers afterwards. Entrants are invited to write the name of the person or people that they are walking or running for on a piece of ribbon - over 700 metres of pink ribbon in all will be used. The recent inclement weather has ensured that parts of Girley Bog, the location of the walking trail, are very sodden. While the organisers have endeavoured to make the course as safe as possible, there are limited changes that they can make to a nature trail. So, the advice is to wear suitable clothes and footwear (hiking boots). "This is not your usual road race and there is every chance that you are going to get mucky!" said a spokesperson for the organisers. "Think Pink. Wear your race t-shirt or dress up. We have a great spot prize for the most colourful gang on the day!" From Kells, Drewstown House is located about 8km from the town on the N52 Mullingar Road. It will be clearly signposted on the day (just follow the pink arrows). There is limited parking available on-site so participants are strongly advised to car pool or take the shuttle buses which will be provided from Kells. There will be two free car parks in Kells: one at the schools (just off the Navan Road) and one at the Fair Green (opposite SuperValu). The free shuttle buses will depart from each car park every half hour (starting from noon), and returning again after the event. All sponsorship money collected will go directly to Action Breast Cancer. Some more volunteer stewards are needed. Anyone who is free for a couple of hours' training tomorrow (Thursday) and on Saturday from noon to 6pm, should phone (087) 984 4724. For further information, visit www.kellspinkribbonwalk.ie