Organisers of the annual Christmas Dash presented cheques for €5,290 each to representatives of the beneficiaries of last year's run - Cavan Down Syndrome and Enable Ireland Cavan. The cheques were presented at the Farnham Arms Hotel last week. Photographed are: John Tully and Linda Mooney, Cavan Do

Registrations open for this year's Christmas Dash!

Published: Sun 16 Dec 2018, 8:50 AM

Over 500 people are expected to shake off the excesses of Christmas and participate in this year’s Cavan Christmas Dash on St Stephen’s Day to raise much-needed funds for local organisations.
This is the eighth year of the charity run/walk and this year’s beneficiaries will be the Cavan branch of Parkinson’s Association of Ireland and Drumlin House Training Centre.
The event has been steadily supported each year with between 5-600 participants taking part. To date, ten charities and groups have shared a total of over €60,000 raised. Among the beneficiaries are: The Alzheimer Society of Ireland, the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Ireland, the Irish Wheelchair Association, the New Ireland Association for Spina Bifida (+ Hat Trick Football Autism Group), Cystic Fibrosis Ireland, Cavan Autism Parents Support Group (CAPS), SOSAD (Save our Sons and Daughters), Enable Ireland – Cavan and Cavan Down Syndrome.
One of the race’s chief organisers, Liam Mimnagh, is urging people to get involved. “We could not have achieved this without people turning up and supporting these so worthy charities and groups. So, to everyone who has taken part in the past and to those planning to step out this St Stephen’s morning, thank you.
“To those still undecided – go on, go on, go on!”
Just over €10,500 was raised and shared between last year’s charities – Cavan Down Syndrome and Enable Ireland Cavan.
A thankful spokesperson from Cavan Down Syndrome said: “As with many charities, Cavan DS receive no funding from the Government and all our funds come through fundraising events throughout the year. It is great to receive this money particularly at this time of year when funds have been exhausted. This funding particularly contributed to the ongoing services such as our pre-school teacher service, speech therapy, swimming, horse-riding, summer camps etc.”
Jane Hand, early services manager, Cavan/Monaghan with Enable Ireland, remarked: “The Christmas Dash is a fantastic, fun event and we’re very grateful for the support. Over € 5,290 was raised for Enable Ireland and this funding is going towards supporting our hydrotherapy pool in the Enable Ireland Children’s Centre in Cavan.”

Registration now open
Registration is available online at www.cavanchristmasdash.ie until 6pm Christmas eve. You can also register on the morning prior to the race at the Farnham Arms Hotel, Cavan, from 10:30am until 11:50am. The race will start at 12 noon sharp.
The first 200 to register online receive a free gym sack with compliments from the Healthy Ireland - Healthy Cavan initiative.
It costs €15 per adult to register on the day, €8 for U16s and family rates from €30. Further discounts are available for those who register online.