Meath communities gathering to run, walk and climb with Charlie...will you be joining in?
As communities across the country show their support for Charlie Bird and his fundraising for two charities that are close to his heart, St Mary's GFC Donore and Rossnaree will hold a 'Climb with Charlie' at event on 2nd April.
The 'Red Mountain Challenge' has been organised by the club to coincide with the Climb with Charlie event on Croagh Patrick on Saturday, 2nd April at 12 noon . Funds raised go towards Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association and suicide prevention charity Pieta House.
Ken Brien decided to organise the challenge after seeing Charlie's interview on the Late Late Show. "When I saw Charlie on the Late Late, I jumped on board. Our pitch is at the foot of Red Mountain and it is a 4.5 mile loop. It will start and end at the clubhouse and community hall."
Ken recently met with Charlie for a coffee in Dublin and told him all about how the club is getting involved.
"As a small club, we want to make this day as big as possible and to raise as much as possible to help. Everybody is welcome to come and join in, -to walk, jog or run- around Red Mountain, Donore, " said Ken.
There is no need to register in advance. Just come along on the day and support the event by either making a donation on the idonate link or there will be bucket collections on the day.
For more information, check out our social media pages, or contact Ken Brien on (086) 8635470. To donate please go to www.idonate.ie, and search for “Red Mountain Challenge”.
Charlie will climb Croagh Patrick on 2nd April and said he is overwhelmed by the support he has received since his diagnosis.
"My motor neurone disease diagnosis was devastating but I have been overwhelmed by the support I have received from the general public, it’s been a huge source of strength for me and my family. I want to use the outpouring of support to help other people suffering with a terminal illness, and those suffering from thoughts of suicide and self-harm.
"Join me in spirit on April 2nd as I raise funds for two charities very close to my heart – Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association and Pieta, Ireland’s national suicide prevention charity. My hope is that people all over Ireland, indeed all over the world will get behind me to show support and solidarity with the thousands of people who climb mountains every day due to their physical and mental health challenges."
The Donore event is one of a number of Climb with Charlie events taking place on 2nd April in the county.
A climb will take place at Loughcrew T Cairns also at 11am on 2nd April, meeting at the car park.
The Hill of Slane walk will start at 10am at the overflow carpark at Slane Castle/ Distillery and proceed to the Hill of Slane.
Another event takes place on the Hill of Tara trail organised by Dermot Higgins. The trail runs for approximately 4km around the perimeter of the Hill of Tara, come along and do one or more laps, any time of the day from 7am onwards.
Loughanleagh & Muff Heritage Trust and Kingscourt Stars GAA have joined forces in solidarity with Charlie, to create their own local event to climb Loughanleagh Mountain on Saturday anytime between 10am to 6pm, starting at the main picnic area.
The Climb with Charlie Event organised for Mullagh Hill on Saturday, has been postponed to 1pm on Sunday instead due to the Cavan Vs Tipperary Div 4 final.
Details of events taking place across the country can be accessed at www.climbwithcharlie.ie with links to fundraising pages.
With the nation set to row in behind Charlie Bird as he climbs Croagh Patrick this weekend, people will also be walking in support of the former RTE reporter at Girley Bog, Kells.
Organised by Trim man Ronan Gargan, the walk will start at 11am with a 6km walk or a shorter route of 1.5km, to suit different levels of fitness.
The popular scenic walk will see people from across the county and further afield come together to support the fundraiser in aid of Irish Motor Neurone Association and Pieta House.
Parking will be available at Girley Hall and the car park at The Church of the Immaculate Conception, Girley. People are asked to walk from there and proceed following the Girley Bog sign and arrows will direct you on the longer and shorter routes.
Buckets will be at the start and end of the walking trail to collect money for the fundraiser and there is also an online fundraiser that you can donate to also.
The Girley Bog location was one of the first in the country to be announced for the Climb with Charlie event.
Ronan says he is looking forward to seeing lots of people out walking on the day and using this solidarity with Charlie Bird event, as a well overdue social catch up for people across the county.
“I’m hoping the weather is good for us on the morning as it has been over the past ten days or so and I want to remind people to wear good outdoor runners/boots for the walking route.
“I’m looking forward to seeing a big turn out on the day to support these two charities, the work that both organisations do is amazing," said Ronan.
"There isn’t a village or town in the country that hadn’t been affected by death by suicide so the work that Pieta does with helping with suicide prevention and awareness is extremely important and they need a lot of funding to offer their services right across the country.
“Irish people are just amazing when it comes to solidarity and the support that will be offered to Charlie on the day across the country will be amazing and I’d like to wish Charlie the best of luck with his climb of Croagh Patrick on Saturday“.
Meanwhile Dunderry Camogie and Ladies Football clubs will undertake a 24-hour walkathon around their pitch from 11am on 2nd April until 11am on 3rd April with donations goings to Women's Aid and the Charlie Bird fund.
Drumconrath GFC are having a ‘Walk with Charlie’ on Saturday from 10am to 1pm, around the pitch. Come whatever time suits and there will be a donation bucket on the day with refreshments also served.
Transition year students in Ratoath College are doing a walk on Friday, 1st April with staff also taking part in an ice-bucket challenge. The students' goal was to reach €1,000 euro with the school management team agreeing to do the ice-bucket challenge if they reached their target, which has now been surpassed. Charlie Bird previously visited the school back in 2005, when it was in Fairyhouse.