Get ready for a real challenge as supporters take on 42km trek! Barretstown is this year celebrating 20 years of providing therapeutic recreation for seriously ill children and their families in Ireland. The children’s charity will mark this milestone by hosting a yearlong festival of events in 2014. As part of the celebrations, Barretstown will be organising the inaugural Dublin Mountains Challenge on Sunday, 25th May, a 42km trek through the Dublin Mountains.
The event is being organised by Barretstown in conjunction with the Dublin Mountains partnership and all funds raised will go directly to the children’s charity. Two routes will be available for participants and the Dublin Mountains Partnership will be providing free training walks leading up to the event so that those looking for a training goal can build up to the 42km challenge. Two routes will be available for participants; 1. For the committed adventurers there is a 42km route which would suit looking for a training goal between now and May. This route will take approximately 9/10 hours to complete. This trek will follow a scenic trail along the Dublin Mountains Way, starting at Tallaght Stadium and finishing in Shankill. 2. A shorter 21km route will also be available which will take approximately 4/5 hours to complete. This option of 21km will also start at Tallaght Stadium and finish at Fairy Castle. Those interested in challenging themselves for charity can register as an individual or as part of a team of 4. Additional events taking place this year include Fossett’s Circus bringing its spectacular show to Barretstown Castle on July 5th along with a number of additional fundraising and celebration events still to be announced. Barretstown was founded by the actor Paul Newman in 1994 and modelled on his renowned Hole in the Wall Gang Camp in the United States. It provides holidays and short breaks for children affected by serious illnesses (primarily cancers and serious blood diseases) and their families. Barretstown’s camp in Kildare serves 2,500-3,000 children each year, entirely free of charge to the families who attend, so donations and fundraising efforts are vital for the charity to help more sick children experience the magic of Barretstown each year. Barretstown’s mission is to rebuild the lives of children affected by serious illness and their families. Today’s survival rates from childhood cancers are 75% or higher. However these children typically undergo lengthy and difficult treatment and have their childhoods severely disrupted. The therapeutic recreation provided by Barretstown is seen as a crucial part of the treatment of childhood illnesses, helping to reduce the disruption to the normal; child and adolescent development process. For more information or to register for the event, visit www.dublinmountainschallenge.ie or contact fundraising@barretstown.org. "Like" RunIreland’s page on Facebook to keep up to date with all the events news in Ireland: www.facebook.com/runireland