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Dublin Live
Dublin Live
National
Roisin Cullen

Ballymun challenge will see locals exercise for 48 hours to raise vital funds for hospice

The Ballymun challenge will see locals tested to their limits to raise vital funds for St. Francis Hospice.

Locals will run, cycle, row or ski four miles every four hours for a whopping total for 48 hours. It is being held today, 30 September at 6pm with over 1,500 raised through the iDonate page.

The event in Ballymun Trinity Comprehensive is being run in conjunction with Ballymun Recovery Month.

Read more: Ballymun Recovery Podcast promoting hope and challenging stigma of addiction

James Power is one of the brave volunteers taking part in the challenge. The proud local said the fundraising attempt shows the remarkable community spirit in Ballymun.

He said: "It's the last day of Ballymun recovery month. They do a recovery month every year for people who have gone through past addictions and have come back out the other end.

"St Francis Hospice was a charity that has affected everyone directly and indirectly. It's a very worthy cause. It's funded purely by donations. It's very close to me personally because both my mam and dad passed away there. It kind of hit home.

"We have been trying to plan this since February of this year but it has just taken a lot of time and organisation. With the help of Ballymun Comprehensive School, we have use of the hall. AK Fitness got all the machines together. We finish on Sunday night at 6pm.

"There are 32 people taking part over the 48 hours. Everyone is going to be up every four hours to do the challenge.

"People are eager to get behind this worthy cause. During Covid, people were neglecting their fitness. The charity hits home for a lot of people.

"Businesses in the local area are tight at the moment but they have donated whatever they can. It's overwhelming really what people ae willing to do. It's two days of no sleep and you're doing an exercise.

"It has brought us all together. It shows that for an area that gets such bad publicity, we always come together as a community."

James also thanked their sponsors Firehouse Pizza, Nan's SuperValu, Bruteforce Nutrition, AK Pulse, Monster Energy Drinks, Anthony Fox, DCC Ballymun Gym, Avonmore Protein, Ballymun Trinity Comprehensive, Tommy Griffis, Ice Bath, and Injury Therapy.

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