Alanna Russell Memorial 6k and mini-bus presentation on Sunday

Next Sunday will be an emotional day for Keith Russell and his wife Ruth when they officially hand over the keys of a mini-bus to the Meadows Respite Centre in Navan.

The Alanna Russell Memorial 6k Run will take place on Sunday next from 121 Fitness at Mullaghboy Industrial Estate and the race will start following the presentation at 11.30am.

“Keith and Team Alanna raised the funds at the Dublin marathon last year and through other fundraising events,” commented Navan AC chairperson Mary Watters who will be on duty on Sunday in a stewarding capacity

“There will also be a memory wall and photographs and messages can be posted on it,” she added.

The late Alanna Russell was a familiar sight with her dad at road races and athletics events around the county, but she passed away last December.

She was the youngest participant in last year's Dublin City Marathon when her father pushed her specially-adapted buggy around the route as he endeavoured to raise funds for the purchase of the mini-bus.

Apart from the race, there will be face painting for children and refreshments will also be available. 

The chip-timed (myrunresults.ie) race will also finish at 121 Fitness and entry fee is €20.

A maximum of 1,000 runners will be facilitated and it is anticipated that the commemorative t-shirts and medals will be in big demand.

Alanna, who was eight in December, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday 13th December, but she helped raise some €64,000 with her dad to fund a new mini-bus for the Meadows Respite Centre.

Alanna was born with spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy, with no speech or use of her arms and legs. 

She also had impaired vision and epilepsy and was one of twins when she was born nine weeks premature, her sister Isabelle died shortly before birth.

According to Navan AC there is a huge demand for places in Sunday’s memorial run. 

Navan Athletic Club officials organised a series of under-age races last May for the inaugural Alanna Russell Memorial on the track at Claremont Stadium as part of the main event - the Simon Cumbers / Paddy Hyland Memorial races.

SEE VIDEO CLIP FROM THAT EVENT LAST MAY