An annual New Year’s Day walk to raise funds for organ donation awareness organised by Co Tyrone group Friends of the Glens returns this year after being called off last year due to Covid 19.
The walk, which will start at the Mellon Country Inn and take in a newly opened section of trail leading to the summit of Bessy Bell, is being organised to raise awareness for those needing transplants.
Friends of the Glens volunteer Sean Harpur said his father was the recipient of a kidney via organ donation, and many of those involved with the group have seen the benefits of it.
“Back in the 1980s my father got a kidney transplant and since then I have always promoted organ donation,” Sean told MyTyrone.
“He died when he was 52 from kidney failure, and then he had a sister who died from kidney failure as well.
“Another sister of his got a kidney transplant from her husband and she has had it for 10 years now. Another fella who walks with me had a heart transplant.
“So a lot of the ones even out walking with us now have got transplants, but that was the main push for me when I started this was for my father.”
With the walk being cancelled last year due to pandemic restrictions, Sean said he is delighted to see it back again this year, with a staggered starting time for participants.
“We had nothing on last year due to the Covid restrictions, but this year we are doing a registration at the start where people can give a donation and then start the walk straight away,” he added.
“We’ve been working with the council and landowners there over the last year and we now have a new path along the A5 from the Mellon up to the summit at Bessy Bell.
“Apart from last year it seems to be getting bigger and bigger every year, everyone likes to get out for a walk as it’s a new year.”
