GALLERY: Kells turns Pink for a great cause
Almost 500 men, women and children registered for the 10th Anniversary year of the Boyne Valley Pink Ribbon Walk in Kells on Sunday October 7th in aid of the Irish Cancer Society.
The participants ran and walked the sponsored 10 kilometre event route in and around the heritage town of Kells. The scenic 10km Run/Walk started and finished in the town centre and took in a all-rod route that included the Cavan Road, Maudlin Bridge and Cherry Hill.
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE FULL PINK RIBBON WALK/RUN GALLERY
The event was chipped and timed and the first runner home was Shauna Moran on a time of 40:22 – closely followed by her father Dominic Moran on 41:02. All of the participants' finishing times are published on http://chipit.ie/
The aim of the Pink Ribbon Walks is to raise funds for Action Breast Cancer, a programme of the Irish Cancer Society that reaches over 25,000 women a year.
Since its inception in Kells in 2009, the Pink Ribbon Walk has turned in to a national movement with sister walks taking place in Killaloe, Kinsale and Kenmare.
Between them, the Pink Ribbon Walks have raised €1.5 million to date for the Irish Cancer Society - funds that have been put towards scientific research programmes, a patient helpline, the Breast Predict programme, cancer literature, night nurses and other essential support services. Visit www.cancer.ie for more information.
The Walk was the brainchild of a group of local Kells women, some of whom have survived breast cancer themselves.
There were great prizes on offer to encourage participants to 'think pink' and dress in fancy dress and there were some very colourful outfits and accessories on display. Sportswoman and TV presenter Anna Geary was the 2018 Ambassador and was on hand to launch the event and lead a fun warm-up routine beforehand.
Following the event, participants were invited to a free Bank of Ireland Kells Enterprise Town Healthy Living Expo in the Headfort Arms and were also treated to to free food kindly sponsored by the Headfort Arms Hotel. The moving Pink Party featured tributes to attending breast cancer survivors and featured musical entertainment by Inspire Gospel Choir led by musical director Nessa Olohan. Joan Kelly, Cancer Support Manager with the Irish Cancer Society, was in attendance and spoke about the importance of fundraisers like the Pink Ribbon Walk in helping to advance cancer research.
The people, sporting clubs and businesses of Kells also rowed in behind the event and the town was a sea of pink balloons, flags, ribbons, poster and t-shirts in the weeks leading up to and on the day of October 7th. Thanks to the Civil Defence, Order Of Malta, Kells Local Heroes, Kells Allotments Group
and Kells Lively Citizens and all of the volunteers that ensured that the event ran smoothly.
“We would like to thank all of our participants, sponsors and volunteers - as well as everyone that sponsored a Walker,” said Committee Chairperson Penny McGowan. “It was fantastic to see so many new faces taking part this year, as well as welcoming back lots of familiar ones. A lot of voluntary work goes in to organising this event and we were delighted to have so many people participate this year - including plenty of men and many teams, families and three generations from one family.”
Participants were asked to try to raise some sponsorship for the Irish Cancer Society - with every cent raised going directly to the charity. You have until Friday October 26th to hand in your sponsorship money to any participating Bank of Ireland branch in Counties Louth and Meath. You can also lodge your money directly to the Pink Ribbon Walk bank account in Bank of Ireland Kells (details are on your sponsorship card). For further information, visit www.pinkribbonwalk.ie