Dashing through the streets- Cavan Christmas Dash

Jenny McGovern

After all the turkey flavoured gluttony of Christmas day, why not burn off a few calories with one of the biggest fun run events in the sporting calendar locally?
The fifth Annual Cavan Christmas Dash will take place on Saturday, December 26 and this year the funds are being raised for the Cavan branch of Cystic Fibrosis Ireland.
To date Cavan Christmas Dash has raised €27,000 for local charities in Cavan. Last year the Dash raised €5,000, donating €4,500 to the Irish Association for Spina Bifida, €500 was donated to Hat Trick Football in Ballyjamesduff.
Speaking to The Anglo-Celt Ciaran Gilmour, Hat Trick football said that the donation from the Dash was a fantastic lift for the club. “It was just amazing to receive €500 from the Cavan Christmas Dash, it meant more than just a donation; it was great to have recognition for what we do. With their help we were able to buy brilliant equipment for the club and our profile was raised. As a result another ten kids joined our programme here. We are so thankful for their generosity.”
Ailís McGerty, Treasurer of The New Irish Association for Spina Bifida was also grateful for the donation.
“The New Irish Association for Spina Bifida is very thankful to the Cavan Christmas Dash for the €4,500 which they raised for our charity. This money was very welcomed and will be well spent on Laptops, Computer Training, Physio and Health Care Contribution of our members in the local area. We also provide hospital stay fees for parents of members in hospital.”

CF
This year all funds raised will be donated to the Cavan branch of Cystic Fibrosis. CF is Ireland’s most common life-threatening genetically inherited disease. CF primarily affects the lungs and digestive system.
With 1,200 CF patients, Ireland has the highest proportion of CF in the world.
Liam Mimnagh, one of the race co-ordinators told the Celt: “We do hope people will come out and support the Cavan Branch of Cystic Fibrosis Ireland, which in recent years has been collaborating with the HSE to provide two dedicated out-patient rooms and two in-patient paediatric rooms in Cavan General Hospital. We would ask everyone to get out of the house on St Stephen’s Day morning and join us for a bit of craic and get some fresh air. Run it, walk it or just come in to town and shout the crowd on!”
This year’s race kicks off at noon from the Farnham Arms Hotel on Main Street. Registration is available at www.cavanchristmasdash.ie and there is also registration on the day in the Farnham from 10.30-11.45am.