MMA star Leah McCourt is undergoing a gruelling strength and endurance challenge to raise funds for a charity battling coronavirus.
Over five days, the 27-year-old Co Down woman who trains at the Straight Blast Gym in Charlestown, north Dublin will be completing 10,000 repetitions with a weighted bag known as a Bulgarian bag, used by combat athletes to build strength.
Starting Monday May 11, the Bellator fighter will complete the daunting daily task of 2,000 squats and lunges while carrying on her shoulders the crescent-shaped bag filled with 15 kilos of sand and wool. Each daily session is likely to take up to 3 hours to complete.
She is undergoing the challenge for Christian Aid, which is responding to the coronavirus crisis in some of the poorest countries in the world.
McCourt said: “The current crisis has left many people feeling helpless, however, it is still possible to do something positive and helps others during the lockdown.
"Exercise is important for our physical and mental health, but it also lifts your spirits knowing you are raising funds to support a good cause.”
Christian Aid Ireland Chief Executive Rosamond Bennett added: “Leah is a true champion and I hope she inspires others to take up the challenge. Christian Aid works in some of the poorest countries in the world, and coronavirus cases have been reported in every one of them.
"We know the impact the virus has had here but poor countries don’t have enough doctors and nurses and very few, if any ventilators or ICU beds.
"People won’t get the treatment they need if they do fall ill, so it’s vital we do all we can to help make sure people protect themselves from coronavirus and help prevent the spread of the disease.”
To support Leah McCourt’s sponsored stay-at-home challenge, visit her Justgiving page here and you can sign up for Christian Aid’s Active Aid campaign here.
