Team from St James’s Hospital Covid-19 unit set for Moylagh 50 Mile
Sign-ups still open for 10th anniversary 50 Mile Challenge on August 7
A county Meath local is set to be the woman who walked 500 miles for cancer services in memory of her sister and brother as participants gear up for the 2021 Moylagh JFK 50 Mile Challenge on August 7.
Walkers and runners from around the country are eager to get back on the course for the popular event which takes in a scenic route across Westmeath, Cavan, and Meath, after the cancellation of the physical edition last year in favour of a virtual challenge due to the pandemic.
Among a colourful field of participants this year will be a team of nurses from one of St James’s Hospital’s Covid-19 units, who will be on their first outing to Moylagh, along with a woman who hasn’t missed an event since the first one 10 years ago.
Ann Marie Grall is part of the organising committee for the Moylagh JFK 50 Mile, whose roots are in a challenge laid down by the famous US president to his military to complete the distance in under 20 hours – and she is raring to return to what is now a well-trodden path for her.
“My sister Martina, who completed the walk for three years, died of ovarian cancer five years ago. Then my brother Sean died from lung cancer three years ago, so it’s very close to my heart and my family’s heart,” Ann Marie said.
“I’m one of the people who really has a reason to go out and do it, and that really motivates you to keep going. Particularly my sister was into her walking and golfing, an active sort of person; I can hear her in my head saying to me ‘keep going, keep going, don’t give up’, because that would have been her attitude – ‘just keep going’.
“It’s always great fun and you don’t need to do the whole thing; taking part is all that matters.”
Also in attendance for the event start at 5am will be nurse Orla McGill, one of 11 colleagues from her team in St James’s who will be taking on their first Moylagh JFK 50 Mile this year.
“In February one of the nurses who came in to help us told us she had signed up, and mentioned that it might be a really good thing for us to do together. Everyone at the time just wanted something to focus on because it was so hard on the ward, so we all signed up,” she said.
“We’re normally all on an oncology surgical ward so we deal with all types of cancers and know the great work that the Irish Cancer Society does in the area, so when the girls found out what it was for they all really wanted to do it.
“A few of us have lost close family members to cancer so we know and have witnessed first-hand the amazing work of the Irish Cancer Society, and also we know the work they do for the patients we care for when we send them back to the community.”
Now in its 10th year, the Moylagh event has raised some €790,000 for vital cancer services since it began and is now looking to break the €1m mark in its 10th year.
A hundred per cent of the money raised goes to cancer services in Ireland – 80pc to the Irish Cancer Society, 10pc to LARCC in Multyfarnham, and 10pc to Palliative Care.
Most of the running costs are sponsored and donated.
Moylagh JFK 50 Mile Challenge chairperson Johnny Guirke said: “As we celebrate our 10th Moylagh JFK 50 Mile Challenge we want to thank everyone who has supported and taken part over the years.
“Due to this ongoing support, we have been able to raise nearly €800,000 for cancer services. We look forward to seeing the participants on August 7 and we also wish everyone doing it virtually the very best of luck.”
With public health and safety in mind, this year’s event start will be staggered over an hour between 5am and 6am on August 7, so smaller groups will start every 15mins. Sanitising stations will also be available for the event.
Participants and groups can register at 50milechallenge.com, and the committee also ask if any business wants to get involved to contact info@50milechallenge.com to sponsor or donate.