Local firefighters complete marathon challenge to fund defibrillator for Edenderry church

Local firefighters have successfully completed a marathon challenge to raise funds for a new defibrillator at St Mary’s Church in Edenderry.

Members of Edenderry Fire Service, in partnership with the Edenderry Community First Responders (CFR) Group, took on the combined marathon challenge in full firefighting gear at Derry Rovers AFC running track on Wednesday, June 25.

The event got underway at 5pm and saw the crew cover the full marathon distance of 26.2 miles (42.195km) in warm evening conditions.

The fundraising initiative surpassed its original goal to raise €1,600 to purchase and install a defibrillator at St Mary’s Church, with the current sum raised reaching €2,652 from some 53 donations.

Any funds raised above the target will be used to support the maintenance and upkeep of the existing network of defibrillators operated by the Edenderry CFR Group throughout Edenderry and surrounding areas.

The Edenderry CFR Group has also committed to maintaining the new defibrillator, which will be housed inside the church and made available to the local community in emergencies.

Derry Rovers AFC hosted the event, welcoming supporters to the club grounds to cheer on the firefighters as they undertook the demanding challenge.

Donations can still be made through the campaign’s GoFundMe page, with all contributions helping to strengthen life-saving emergency response resources in the local community.

To donate, go to: https://www.gofundme.com/f/purchase-a-defibrillator-for-st-marys-church-edenderry