Birr native pushes Christmas Day charity run
Birr native Darren Hanniffy is urging people from all over Offaly to run a mile for GOAL this Christmas, and help raise as much money and awareness as possible for the aid agency’s work in the developing world.
The GOAL Mile is held in villages, towns and cities all over Ireland every Christmas and is one of the country’s biggest and longest-running annual fundraising events.
The concept is simple: people run or walk a mile and donate whatever they can afford to GOAL on the day.
Thanks to GOAL Mile organisers and participants, millions have been raised to support GOAL’s work in the developing world since the first event was held in 1982.
“I recently returned from Haiti, where GOAL continues to help the people recover from the effects of the earthquake in 2010,” Darren said.
“We have made a lot of progress in Haiti, but there is still so much more to do. Many of the people in The Philippines are facing the same obstacles and struggles that the Haitian people did four years ago.
“GOAL is responding in The Philippines and thanks to support from the Irish people, we have delivered aid supplies to more than 25,000 people already. We will have reached a further 25,000 over the coming two weeks. By taking part in a GOAL Mile this year, and donating whatever they can afford, people can support our response in The Philippines - and our work right across the developing world. Every cent will make a difference.”
Offaly GOAL Miles will take place on Christmas Day at Lusmagh from 11am to midday; Tullamore Harriers from 9am to 1pm and Emmet Square, Birr from 1pm to 1.30pm.
GOAL has also established a new GOAL Mile page on their website that includes a global map of locations and a celebrity Mile leaderboard, where runners can compare their best times against some of Ireland’s top sporting stars, including Eamon Coghlan and Alan Brogan.
If you would like to organise your own GOAL Mile event, please email Cathy at fundraising@goal.ie, or phone 01 2809779.
To take part in a GOAL Mile near you, please visit the GOAL Mile webpage at www.goal.ie.