Fun and funds: mini marathon is huge success
Susan, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) 21 years ago, operates an intense programme of fundraising for MS and came all the way from her US home in San Diego, California. Her son Dan Levy, 26, flew in from London, where he works, to give Susan a helping hand.
Susan said: “I heard about this marathon and it was just so great to come here. I love Limerick and I couldn’t be more excited.
“Dan does a walk for MS every year no matter where he is in the world.”
The 2,600 women athletes who took part in yesterday’s event at the University of Limerick (UL) raised an estimated €500,000 for a range of charities and organisations.
Shirley O’Regan of the Irish Examiner’s marketing department said: “We are very pleased to have been again involved in this great event with Limerick Athletic Club and Limerick’s Live 95FM.”
Limerick Athletic Club members helped co-ordinate the event with the assistance of the gardaí and voluntary services.
Paddy O’Connell of Limerick Athletic Club said: “We were blessed with the weather — it was like a lovely midsummer’s day.
“It has now become a must for huge numbers of competitors who come and run and then make a great social day out of it.
“We are very grateful to the Irish Examiner and Live 95FM for their support.
“But most of all we must pay tribute to all the wonderful participants who have helped raise huge sums of money for a wide variety of worthy causes.
“We would also like to thank UL for making their magnificent facilities available to us.”
At the serious vanguard of the run, Niamh O’Sullivan of An Ríocht athletics club in Kerry continued her scintillating form and took the top honours. In doing so she was completing a great double, having won the Evening Echo Women’s Mini Marathon in Cork last month.
It was a double compensatory reward for Niamh, as she had been the runner-up in both events last year.
Veronica Colleran from Ennis finished in second place, followed home in third place by Ann McPhale of University of Limerick Athletic Club.
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