Gallant Challenge close to fundraising milestone

The Gallant Challenge is closing in on a fundraising milestone for local hospice services.

Returning for the first time since the pandemic, the event is in its 17th year of collecting vital funds in aid of St Christopher’s Hospice in Cavan.

Over the past 16 years, it has raised €436,000 and organiser Ciaran Weir told The Anglo-Celt that the half a million euro target is in sight.

“I don’t think we’ll be breaking it this year, but I’d be very confident that next year would be the big one. We’ll put a good hole in it and leave it a lot closer than what it is now. We need another €64,000 and hopefully we’ll get at least half of that on this walk.”

The Gallant Challenge began after Ciaran visited St Christopher’s Hospice while on his way to college in Cavan Town one morning and left with a feeling that he could contribute something.

“I met with staff, nurses and some of the patients and I came out with a mentality that I wanted to do something. It’s very important to try give something back if you can.”

The 5k or 10k run, walk and jog takes place around Cornafean on Saturday October 29.

The event starts and finishes at MacSeains Bar in Cornafean and the route will be marked out and stewarded the entire distance.

A special guest on the day will be two-time All-Ireland winning manager of the Meath Ladies Football team, Eamon Murray.

The entry fee on the day is voluntary, with registration from 12 noon and the challenge getting underway at 1pm.

Sponsorship cards or information on the challenge is available from St Christopher’s Hospice (049-4332999), Ciaran Weir (086-0753309) and the Village Foodstore in Crossdoney.