Claire and Lorna's 'Beg, Borrow, Steal' challenge needs you!

Tomorrow, two panic-stricken students will find themselves in the middle of Dublin Airport, without a penny, trying desperately to make it to Berlin.

DCU students Claire Tiernan from Bailieborough and Lorna Reilly will begin racing across Europe in the annual ‘Beg Borrow Steal’ event, organised by DCU’s Enterprise Society.
The Celt spoke to Claire before the event to see how their preparation was going.
This year’s event is in aid of the Irish Cancer Society and will see Claire and Lorna compete against 105 other teams in an attempt to get to Berlin as quickly as possible starting with no money whatsoever.
'I’m both nervous and excited, It’s frightening knowing you’ve to start on the day without a penny and aim to get to Berlin, it’s a huge task but for a great cause,' the Economics, Politics and Law student says.
It’s not only the German capital that the girls have to reach, they must pass through at least two other unknown European checkpoints on their way.
Claire is under no illusion as to how tough it’s going to be.

'The most worrying part is thinking about not making it and giving up. But every team is in the same boat.
'Myself and Lorna get on very well. Since we moved in together in September, we just clicked and I know we’ll have serious craic.'
The ‘Beg Borrow Steal’ innitiative, founded and organised by Carlow Communications student Dylan Kehoe, is entering its third year, following the ‘Race to the Rebel County’ and hugely successful ‘Escape to Edinburgh’.
Last year’s race to Edinburgh saw €20,000 raised for the Donal Walsh LiveLife Foundation. With this year’s ‘Berlin Breakout’ looking even bigger E-Soc plan to surpass even that, hitting over €30,000.
'I’d heard all about last year’s event before I came to DCU, so I obviously wanted to take the plunge and we applied immediately. There was no way I was missing out, it’s crazy.'

All prior fundraising goes straight to the foundation but the team that raises the most is given a 15-minute headstart and some cash, which could make all the difference at the end of the day.
So what do the girls start with? Their bagpacks, some maps, their phones, a few German phrases and each other. And of course, a riddle for their first checkpoint.
'I studied German for my Junior Cert at Higher Level so I suppose that might come in handy,' Claire jokes. 'Unfortunately, Lorna doesn’t have a word but she has her banter!'
The fear of the unknown is palpable especially due to the fact that no pre-planning is allowed, or even possible. Dublin Airport may not even be their first port of call.
'Our main objective is to get sponsored as soon as possible by an airline or another kind of transport company if we can. It’d be such a big relief on the day.'
In a bid to secure a vital headstart and to raise as much funds for the Irish Cancer Society as possible, Claire and Lorna are relying on public generosity and appealing for donations.
'No donation is too small and every cent goes directly to the charity,' Claire stressed.
You can donate by logging on to http://begborrowsteal.ie/, scrolling down and clicking onto team number 61 ‘Hamburgers, Germany’ (Claire Tiernan and Lorna Reilly).
Follow the girls updates on Twitter through the hashtag #DCUBegBorrowSteal, and you can also find them at @hamburgers18.