Moylagh JFK 50 Mile Challenge targeting €2 million in 2026

It’s more than 60 years since JFK’s Fitness Programme was instigated to address concerns that American soldiers were growing soft, and 15 years ago, it was the inspiration for an event to raise funds for the Irish Cancer Society, LARCC, and local palliative care.

Since then, thousands have walked, jogged, or run the Moylagh JFK 50 Mile Challenge route across Westmeath, Meath and Cavan.

There are many aspects to the appeal for the event; charity recipients, physical challenge, vistas on the route and the community encountered.

“I think the community aspect is the most important part,” Johnny Guirke, Meath West TD, and chairman of the event, said: “Every road you walk, every second house, they put out drinks and food and fruit. After the walk, everybody talks about it, the community spirit.”

Over the day, the participants test their resilience, perseverance, and inner strength, not for medals or trophies, but to raise awareness and funds for local causes that change lives.

“People in the three counties, Westmeath, Meath and Cavan, help out. The support we get from Lough Lene Gaels, from people around Fore, and other areas in Westmeath is wonderful. Every year, assisting as stewards or cooking burgers,” Johnny said.

From first time walkers to seasoned athletes, the hundreds of people sign up for a range of reasons; to honour loved ones, to overcome personal challenges, or just to be part of something bigger than themselves.

In the last 15 years, the popularity of the event has burgeoned, and the beneficiaries reap the rewards: “Last year we raised €209,000. That takes our overall tally to almost €1.6 million since we started.

“We run it on a shoestring budget. We don’t waste one cent, nearly everything we get is sponsored. Everybody buys in to it because of where the money goes at the end.”

Johnny says the Moylagh JFK 50 Mile Challenge is about participation: “It’s a challenge. It’s not an easy thing to do, but for most people, it is about the causes we support.

“That draws an awful lot of people to us. Some like the challenge of 50 miles, but just two-thirds of the participants do the full distance. Some do five miles, some 10 miles, or even do half of it.

“They still take part and raise a few bob. We would encourage everyone to join, even if you’re only going to do a couple of miles, take part and raise funds for cancer services.” The direct beneficiaries are the Irish Cancer Society, LARCC and local palliative care: “Every year, we give 10% to LARCC, 10% to Palliative Care Meath, and 10%, to Palliative Care in Westmeath. We are hoping that we can top the figure from last year and that will get us close to the €2 million, and every cent of that will go to those cancer charities.”

With two months to the event, the committee hosted a gathering to promote it: “We recently held the launch. This is just to kickstart it, get a bit of interest going and get it up and running. It’s probably a bit different to other launches, we just walked around the football pitch, but it sets the tone for the event itself.”

There was a special guest of honour at that launch as Westmeath councillor, David Jones, explained: “A local company, Fusion Technologies, have invested in a robot. They will be working on the robot for next year to program it to work in factories, or do household chores. He thought it would be a good idea to bring the robot to the launch walk, which took place at the Moylagh GAA pitch.

“The robot did a lap of the walking track. His handler, Gerry McDonald, introduced him and said he’s going to do a couple of miles of the 50 mile challenge.”

Cllr Jones echoed the belief that the strength of the event is down to the community: “You’re dealing with fantastic communities in the three counties. While it may be over 50 miles, it’s generally never too far away from Moylagh. You’re going in a circle the whole time. It’s just amazing the support you have from the communities, and the local businesses you pass on the route.”

The event may be local, but it has a global appeal: “We have had people from all over the world taking part. A number of Americans have taken part in this challenge over the years because of the origin of the JFK 50 Mile Challenge.”

• The Moylagh JFK 50 Mile Challenge starts at Moylagh community centre on Saturday June 6 at 6am. Participants should be on-site at 5.15am.