Local walks for Charlie Bird
On the same day that former RTÉ journalist Charlie Bird is to climb Croagh Patrick (Saturday April 2), people across the country will also be climbing, walking, running to show their support for his fundraising.
Charlie, who has gone public with his diagnosis of motor neurone disease, aims to climb the Mayo mountain with friends and supporters to help raise awareness of the condition.
The fundraiser Climb With Charlie has been set up to raise funds for the Irish Motor Neurone Association and Pieta House.
Among others joining the legendary reporter on the day in Mayo will be health campaigner Vicky Phelan, former president Mary McAleese, country singer Daniel O’Donnell, CNN reporter Donie O’Sullivan, architect Dermot Bannon, broadcaster Ryan Tubridy and more.
Locally, there are walks on that day at Mullaghmeen (11am) and Girley Bog, organised by Trim man Ronan Gargan, manager at Supermac’s in Trim (also 11am).
The Mullaghmeen walk point of contact is Kathryn Cooke (kathryn@briody.ie) at the Briody Group, whose staff are undertaking it. The 4.5km Blue Route starts and finishes in the main car park and includes the summit of Mullaghmeen, the highest point in Westmeath.
The route is a stone/gravel path and is fully marked. There are three other marked, looped routes available to walk that do not include the summit so there should be a challenge suitable for everyone. “Feel free to join us and help raise vital funds for these two great charities,” say the Briody Group team.
For a walk at Girley Bog walk, there will be a 6km route and a 1.5km option; buckets will be at the start and end of the trail to collect money for the fundraiser and there is also an online fundraiser that people can donate to.
Refreshments will be served at the finish line on the day at the outdoor seating area of the bog, making it a social morning and a chance to meet up with friends and locals and to support Charlie on the day.
On social media Vicky Phelan thanked Trim man Ronan Gargan for organising the walking event at Girley Bog and wished him well in his efforts.
Ronan said: “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.
“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.”
“So many of us can remember Charlie Bird in our sitting rooms on the television every evening reporting on stories across the country and Indeed across the world and it’s sad to see him suffering with this disease but this event seems to have given him a lift and going by his social media posts that he posts daily he is excited about the climb in April.”
“The walks at Girley Bog are suited for people with all different levels of fitness and that’s why when I thought where would I host this it had to be at the Meath bog location. I feel that the importance of fresh air and walking is so important for a healthy lifestyle and healthy mindset. A lot of people forget that.”
• climbwithcharlie.ie/find-a-climb/
Climb With Charlie partners with Dunnes Stores to raise funds
Dunnes Stores in Mullingar and Athlone welcomed the launch of the Climb With Charlie campaign with Charlie Bird and his wife Claire today (Monday 28 February) to their store in Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre.
From Thursday 31 March to Sunday 3 April, shoppers at Dunnes Stores will be able to donate at the till to support the Climb With Charlie campaign.
Charlie said: "I am so delighted to have the support of Dunnes Stores. It is an amazing gesture of support and solidarity for me and my family. I know that every single euro donated will go to the two charities that are so close to my heart.’
‘’I also want to thank people all across the country for their support as well. We now have almost 80 locations around the country and abroad where people are walking and climbing in support of what will hopefully turn into a great day of celebration.
"I also want to give a special mention to the scores of schools around the country and their pupils who are giving me such up lifting support.’’
Local walks
Charlie is encouraging people to climb or walk in their local areas, whether it is climbing a mountain or a short walk in a park, and to keep on climbing the mountains of their personal battles.
Due to health and safety concerns and ongoing environmental works on Croagh Patrick, the campaign cannot facilitate large numbers of people on Croagh Patrick on April 2.