Press release CAROLINE MORAHAN CALLS ON PEOPLE TO SIGN UP FOR FOCUS IRELAND FUNDRAISING TRIATHLON & GET FIGHTING FIT FOR THE SUMMER & HELP RAISE OVER €200,000 TO HELP COMBAT HOMELESSNESS Caroline Morahan took time out of her busy TV schedule recently to head down to Dublin Docklands to launch Focus Ireland’s Fundraising Triathlon which aims to raise over €200,000 this Summer to support the charity’s work to combat and prevent homelessness.
Caroline called on people to sign up for the event to raise funds to help Focus Ireland meet the rising demand for its support as the recession has already putting more people at serious risk of losing their home.
The Focus Ireland Triathlon is once again to be held right in the heart of Dublin at Grand Canal Square on Sunday August 2nd over the Bank Holiday weekend. Last year the event was the first triathlon to ever take place in the newly regenerated docklands area.
Sporty Caroline got into the spirit of things and put on her running gear to team up with fellow Dubliners swimmer Sean Compton and cyclist Paul Butler who are already in training for the event.
Caroline said: “This is a great event and we are hoping people will enter to take part and help raise vital funds to support Focus Ireland’s work. We all know how tough times are at the moment and I have heard that there is already more people coming to look for support from Focus Ireland demand as a result of the recession.
She added: “Signing up for the event can help people have a goal to aim towards to help them get in training and with the Summer coming up there’s no time like now to get going. A few friends can even sign up as a team and do one leg of the event each if they’d like to do it that way so it makes the event achievable for many more people as one person could do the swim, someone else the run and another person the cycle.”
She added: “I would urge people to sign up now for the event as the places filled up very quickly last year as its so special for a Triathlon to be held right in the centre of Dublin at Grand Canal Dock.”
The money raised by the event will go towards Focus Ireland’s work supporting over 6,000 people through its services each year. It will also help to fund the charity’s work providing a permanent place to call home for over 600 households at developments throughout Dublin, Limerick, Waterford, Cork, Kilkenny and Sligo.
The triathlon consists of a 750m swim in Grand Canal Basin followed by a 5km run and 20km cycle along Dublin’s historic quays. The event is open to everyone over the age of 18 – both individuals and teams. (Teams must consist of three participants; each team member completes one discipline only)
Each individual must raise sponsorship of €250 and each team must raise €550 to take part in the Triathlon. The event will be an exciting challenge for both first-time and experienced triathletes. People can log on to www.focusireland.ie or phone 1850 204 205 to sign up and get further details.
Focus Ireland Events Co-ordinator Sinead Price said: “Caroline has been a great supporter of our work in recent years and I think It’s great when people such as her take the time to support charity work. It really encourages other people to take part in fundraising events and take an interest is supporting other people dealing with tough problems like homelessness.”
Ms Price also paid tribute to the Dublin Docklands Development Authority (DDDA) for providing the great location again for this year’s event.
Photo-Caption: Caroline Morahan has called on Dubliners to sign up to the Focus Ireland Fundraising Triathlon which takes place on Aug 2nd to help raise over €200,000 to combat and prevent homelessness. Call 1850 204 205 or log on to www.focusireland.ie to find out more and sign up for the event.
Editors’ notes:
• The Great Outdoors and The Cycle Superstore are also kindly providing some prizes for second and third places. The race is being run in association with The Dublin Docklands Development Authority, Waterways Ireland and the Gardaí Siochana
For media information please contact:
Roughan Mac Namara,
Focus Ireland,
Ph: 01 8815 900 or 086 85 15 117