A big crowd gathered in Monagea last Wednesday night to launch a charity walk/run/cycle. Friends and neighbours, county hurlers and footballers were in attendance along with local cycling and athletic clubs and Councillors Jerome Scanlan and Michael Collins. The charity event is in aid of the CRY Centre and takes place from Monagea Community Centre on Saturday May 2013. It is being organised by the Herlihy and O’Donovan/Scanlan families in memory of Niamh Herlihy and Darra O’Donovan. Clare Scanlan, Darra’s mother opened the proceedings. Having welcomed everyone and thanking them for attending she then spoke about their reasons for organising this event. In April 2011 Niamh died while in college in Cork, she was looking forward to her 21st birthday party which was to be held the following weekend. In December 2011 when Darra’s mother went to wake him for school she found him dead. He had been county training on the Friday night, was to sit his Junior cert. He was only 15 years old. Clare said that as well as leaving both families heartbroken, they still have no real explanation for their deaths. Marie Gibbons then gave an account of the CRY Centre, the work it does and how it depends on charity events such as this to keep it going. The CRY Centre (located in Tallaght Hospital) researches the cause of Sudden Adult Death (SADS) and provides tests and support for families who have lost someone through SADS, the centre does not receive any government funding. Liam Herlihy, Niamh’s father then gave a rundown of the actual charity event, explaining to the crowd gathered that sponsorship cards are available but if someone wants to make a donation on the day, that too is most welcome. Liam added that lots of volunteers will be needed to make the event a success but was confident that the people of Monagea and also the neighbouring parishes would get behind it all the way. Again the crowd was thanked for attending the launch.
Event Details
10km walk/run starting at 12 noon and 80km cycle starting at 11am both from Monagea Community Centre. If anyone wants sponsorship cards or to get involved, please contact Liam Herlihy 087-2998461 or Clare O’Donovan 085-1458214 or Seán Herlihy at seanherlihy@cavanaghs.com. You can also follow the progress in the papers. We will have regular updates to keep everyone informed.