John and Gerry McDonnell presenting the Anna-Francis McDonnell Award to Carmel Aidan and Colin Tuohy who were members of the Golden Wanders team from Tipperary.

Moylagh JFK 50 Mile walk raises €180k

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John and Gerry McDonnell presenting the Anna-Francis McDonnell Award to Carmel Aidan and Colin Tuohy who were members of the Golden Wanders team from Tipperary.

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John Farrell of Boston presenting members of the committee with $50,044.

John Donohoe

Published: Sun 21 Nov 2021, 8:19 PM

Last updated: Sun 21 Nov 2021, 8:21 PM

This year’s Moylagh JFK 50 Mile Challenge annual walk/run raised over €180,000 for cancer services in Ireland.

This massive achievement come on the backdrop of the event being physically cancelled in August due to Covid restrictions. The event went ahead in a virtual capacity with people taking part from all over Ireland in their own areas and across the world, including a large event in Boston which on its own raised over $50,000.

John Farrell, home from Boston, who was on the Boston-Moylagh 5k Family Walk committee, presented members of the committee with $50,044.

The total amount raised over the past 10 years for cancer services in Ireland is €977,000, and the committee is confident that next year it will smash the €1 million mark.

The money is split 80 per cent to the Irish Cancer Society, 10 per cent to LARCC and 10 per cent to Palliative Care

John and Gerry McDonnell presented the Anna-Francis McDonnell Award to Carmel, Aidan and Colin Tuohy who were members of the Golden Wanders team from Tipperary. The Golden Wanders were the team that raised the most money in 2021 of €18,488.

Eamonn Sr and Karen Fitzsimons presented the Sadie Fitzsimons Perpetual Memorial Cup to Della Grall, standing in for Karen Carey of Hilltown, Oldcastle who was the individual who raised the most money this year of €7,657. Karen, who is battling cancer, walked 41 miles, and the committee sends best wishes to her.

The committee would like to thank each and every person who took part. This year's event attracted people from across Europe, America and Australia.

Gerry McDonnell said on behalf of the organisers: “We are over the moon with the amount raised and it really is amazing that in a year where the physical event was cancelled that we raised the most in one year, the committee is already gearing up for next year and come hail, rain or snow we will go ahead. It was unfortunate that this year’s physical event had to be stopped at the last minute. We hope that Covid will not be an issue next year and can’t wait to see everyone back in Moylagh.

The event running costs are sponsored and donated by people and businesses, and the committee thanked all those that did sponsor and donate, and also asks if any business wants to get involved next year to contact info@50milechallenge.com to sponsor or donate.

Next years challenge will be on Saturday 11th June.