Westmeath Footballer Boidu Sayeh announced as digital ambassador for GT5K

Grant Thornton’s Corporate 5K Team Challenge date confirmed

Grant Thornton Ireland has launched its nationwide Corporate 5k team challenge race series (GT5K).

The 2021 GT5K, usually run in Dublin, Cork, Galway and Belfast, will take place virtually for the second year, allowing for runners from all over the country to take part on September 8.

This will be the second time the race is held virtually to ensure everyone can participate in this exciting event in a safe manner.

This year is the 10th of the GT5K, which has grown from one event in one location to, in pre-Covid times, four separate 5K races with 8,000 participants, covering each province in the country.

Last year’s virtual event saw runners participating from much further afield for the first time, including runners taking part in the UK, the US and The Cayman Islands.

The race will be open to individuals and teams of four which can be made up of corporates, families, sports clubs and anyone who wishes to enter a team. Participants will be invited to complete the 5k at any time on September 8 and upload their time to a live leader board by midnight the same day.

Grant Thornton Ireland announced the race ambassador for this year’s 5K is three-time Olympian Derval O’Rourke, who will be joined by a ‘social-squad’ of regional ambassadors for the event to encourage teams around the country to get up and get active.

The first members of the ‘squad’ have been named as Boidu Sayeh, Westmeath footballer, and Tom Daly, Connacht Rugby player – watch out over coming weeks for additions to the GT5K social squad and their tips on getting active.

Derval O’Rourke said: “I’m delighted to be an ambassador for the GT5k. During these Covid months so many people have benefited both physically and mentally from either walking, running, or cycling 5k. Myself? I fell back in love with running (don’t forget to stretch before and after!) and I am looking forward to running this 5k on September 8.”

The race series welcomes all abilities, from beginners to experienced runners.

Organised by Athletics Ireland, the GT5K will support the top emerging young athletes through the Athletics Ireland Junior high-performance programme.

Grant Thornton Ireland has also again partnered with the Alzheimer Society of Ireland for this year’s event to help raise funds for the charity.

To enter the race register at www.grantthornton.ie/gt5k.

Individuals or teams can register, and teams can compete in one of the three categories: male, female, or mixed.

The entry fee per person is €10 + booking fee or €40 + booking fee per team.

All participants will receive GT5K T-shirts.