Tochar Phadraig Mayo fundraising walk celebrates its 15th birthday
THE Tochar Phadraig Fundraising Walk Team has announced this popular event will return on May 3. This year the team will celebrate its 15th birthday and will fundraise for GOAL and Cancer Fund for Children.
The theme of this year’s walk is 'Remembering Our Friends Gone to Soon and Celebrating Our Milestones'.
Robbie McCarthy, from Westport, set up the Tochar Phadraig Fundraising Walk Team in 2008. As a Westport native, Robbie had passed the Tochar Phadraig route many times and always wanted to try it out but never felt he had the time nor fitness levels to attempt it.
The Tochar Phadraig is a walkway that leads from Ballintubber Abbey to Croagh Patrick. This old pilgrim road stretches 22 miles/34kms across mid-Mayo on a route that is both cross-country and on quiet rural roads. The original goal for this team was to get fit and active while raising money for charity.
The first year they had 14 participants and raised €18,000 for the Share a Dream Foundation. To date the team has raised an incredible €127,000 for Share a Dream Foundation, Irish Cancer Society, GOAL and Mayo Roscommon Hospice.
“We are so grateful to everyone who has walked with us over the last 14 years. We have only raised this amazing amount of money because of our walkers and their supporters. I’ve enjoyed watching this event grow and making lots of new friends along the way,” said Robbie
“On Saturday, May 3, I am asking people to join me as we undertake the 15th Tochar Phadraig Fundraising Walk. You can sign up to do one mile or the 22 miles. Each step counts as we raise money for Cancer Fund for Children and GOAL,” continued Robbie.
Rachel Fullam, community fundraising officer for Cancer Fund for Children, said: “We’re so grateful to be a chosen charity for the Tochar Phadraig Fundraising Walk, especially as it celebrates its 15th year. The funds raised will help us to continue providing vital services to children and young people diagnosed with cancer across the island of Ireland.
“Our team work with families in homes, communities and hospitals nationwide and we offer free therapeutic short breaks in Daisy Lodge. Cancer Fund for Children look forward to growing our services in the west of Ireland with the development of our second Daisy Lodge in Cong; fundraising events like the Tochar Phadraig walk help us achieve our mission and ensure no child faces cancer alone.”
Salina Janzan, senior fundraising manager for GOAL, said: “For over 48 years, GOAL's humanitarian work has been empowered by the generosity of our community fundraisers. We're so honoured and grateful to be one of the charities selected by the Tochar Phadraig Walk again this year. As humanitarian crises around the world continue to increase in both number and intensity, this support is more important than ever.
“Last year, the funds raised from this event helped GOAL reach over 11 million people across 14 countries in Africa, Latin America, the Middle East and Ukraine with humanitarian aid and development programmes. This work simply wouldn’t be possible without the support of communities around Ireland.”
The fundraising walk, supported by Ballintubber Abbey, will start at 6.15 a.m. from Ballintubber Abbey. A free bus will provide transport out from Westport town for anyone that needs it. This transport will leave at 5.30 a.m. from the Tesco Westport car park.
The walk is 22 miles/35km across bog, field and road. There will be lots of food and toilet stops and there will be support vehicles along the route. Each person who registers will be set up with an online fundraising page.
“Twenty-two miles can be daunting for some people but the best thing about this walk is you can do as little or as much as you want. The first 10 miles will be via field, and this will bring us out to Aughagower. People can decide to join here and continue the next 12 miles via road,” continued Robbie.
To register, go to idonate.ie/forms/c/tocharphadraig. For more information, contact Robbie McCarthy on (086) 8233330.
If you would like to donate, see idonate.ie.