Popular hotelier and businessman Tom Moran, owner of the Moran and Bewley’s Hotel Group, completed his 250km ‘Tomathon’ walk in aid of Pieta House recently. He crossed the line with family, friends and famous faces including Irish Olympic legend Ronnie Delaney, Tipperary hurler Noel McGrath, Dublin footballer Eoghan O’Gara and beauty Andrea Roche. Having raised well over their target of €100,000 so far for charity, Tom is thrilled with the achievement.
“The Tomathon has been an amazing journey in every sense,” says Tom. “I am genuinely overwhelmed by the support, goodwill and generosity of everyone, from the Gardaí, the Red Cross and our physiotherapists who ensured our safety and wellbeing along the way, to the famous faces that assisted in raising awareness of the walk, the walkers that joined us and all of my wonderful family and friends. My aim for the Tomathon was to raise enough money for Pieta House to be able to help 100 people in crisis and we have more than exceeded our target. I hope to God that we have also managed to save at least 100 lives.”
Tom Moran began his challenge in Athea, where he was brought up, on Tuesday 11th September and crossed the finish line 250km later at the Red Cow Inn, Dublin, on Friday 21st September – marking the 24th anniversary of when Tom first arrived at the hotel. Tom has had huge support along the way from a whole host of personalities including Kilkenny Hurling Manager Brian Cody, comedians Brendan Grace and Pat Shortt and June Rodgers who joined the walk at different stages, as did rugby stars Alan Quinlan and Keith Wood.
Tom Moran undertook the major fundraising drive after being awarded the title ‘Limerick Person of the Year’ by the Limerick GAA Supporters Club. While delighted with and proud of the award, he felt that the title spurred him on to do something worthy of the honour.
The aim of the ‘Tomathon’ was threefold: to raise awareness about suicide, to remind people in distress where they can go for help, and to generate as much money for the charity, Pieta House, as it could and it has succeeded on all three counts.