350k bay to bay charity walk will visit Mayo
A 350k charity walk from Donegal Bay to Galway Bay, via Mayo, will get underway on Saturday, November 6.
Ronan Scully will be joined by friends as he raises funds for three charities - Self Help Africa, the Galway Rape Crisis Centre and Rosabel Rooms in partnership with The Irish Hospice Foundation.
As he puts his best foot forward, Ronan will also especially remember his young niece Aoife Doyle Scully, who passed away tragically in 2020.
Having worked for a number of years with Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity in Calcutta, Ronan spent more than a decade in India, Nepal, Angola, Ethiopia, Kenya and Sierra Leone, and has continued this work over the past 28 years as a representative in the west of Ireland with Self Help Africa.
The trip is a sort of Irish Camino for Ronan and friends and will start from the parish church in Donegal Bay, and will conclude with a 5k charity walk which everyone is invited to take part in on the promenade in Salthill, Galway, at 3 p.m. on Saturday, November 13.
Ronan is asking people to do a virtual 1k, 5k or 10k walk or whatever distance they can walk during the week in support of his walk and make a donation or get sponsorship and donate it to the charities involved.
Having worked to aid those in the developing world for the past 28 years, Ronan has organised races, walks, climbs, social events, charity galas, and fundraising expeditions over the years, and even undertook a hike and marathon at the North Pole in aid of various charities a number of years ago.
The upcoming cross-down country walk, he said, would provide him a chance to say thank you to so many people who have supported him in his work with some of the poorest people, families and children on our planet.
“I am looking at it as a prayerful journey and a celebration of the time I’ve spent working for charity, and also of the many incredible people who I’ve crossed paths with in this line of work over the past 28 years and who gave so much of themselves so that we could help so many people, families and children in need around our country and our world,” he said.
“The Irish people are amongst the most generous people in the world. I feel very blessed, privileged and humbled to be able to do what I do, and to know that so many people have been willing to give their time, their hard earned money and their efforts to support a host of good causes.”
Participants are welcome to join Ronan at any stage along the route but especially on his final 5km walk along the prom in Galway on November 13, or to donate directly to his appeal at www.idonate.ie/AoifeDoyleScully or by contacting any of the charities or at ronan.scully@selfhelpafrica.org.
Mayo dates
Tuesday, November 9: 7/8 a.m. start from Enniscrone, on to Castlebar/Westport (48k).
Wednesday, November 10: 7 a.m. start from Castlebar/Westport and on to Knock (48k).
Thursday, November 11: 7/8 a.m. start from Knock before walking to Tuam (45k).