Irish Examiner marathon to raise over €500,000

THE Irish Examiner Limerick Women’s Mini Marathon next Sunday will raise in excess of €500,000 for various charities in Limerick and surrounding areas, chief organiser Paddy O’Connell said yesterday.

The big event will bring added joy to the special play area for sick children in the Mid-Western Regional Hospital.

Nearly 100 runners will take to the streets to raise money for the Children in Hospital Ireland organisation and much of this money will go to the Children’s Ark in the Limerick hospital.

Beryl Carswell is one of the 26 volunteers who go to the children’s unit at the hospital every week to play with the children.

Beryl said: “We spend about two or three hours at a time during the day and it helps parents to go away and get some time out.”

The hospital’s sick children’s unit caters for nearly 60 patients who range in age from young babies to late teens.

The Hospital Services Executive Mid-West has provided a special outdoor area which children can access when weather permits.

Volunteers also help school-going children with home work.

Meanwhile, entries for the Mini Marathon, which takes place next Sunday, October 9, are streaming in.

Limerick Athletic Club PRO Paddy O’Connell said they are well on target to have in excess of 3,000 runners.

He said: “In recent days there has been a constant stream of entries coming to the Irish Examiner office in O’Connell Street.”

Mr O’Connell said that due to postal delays, entries will remain open until Wednesday morning.

There will also be a special facility, he said, to accommodate late entries.

“We would like to have everybody registered by Wednesday, but we won’t turn anybody away,” he said.