Girley Bog Walk for Charlie
Charlie Bird will be climbing Croagh Patrick on 2 April with friends and supporters to help raise awareness of motor neurone disease.
The former RTE journalist has been battling the disease, but it still won't hamper him ticking his bucket list for climbing the Mayo mountain on the first Saturday of April.
The fundraiser Climb With Charlie has been set up to raise funds for the Irish Motor Neurone Association and Pieta House. On the same day across the country people will be climbing, walking, running to show support to Charlie.
Among others joining the legendary reporter on the day in Mayo will be health campaigner Vicky Phelan, former president, Mary McAleese, country singer Daniel O’Donnell, CNN reporter Donie O’Sullivan, architect Dermot Bannon, broadcaster Ryan Tubridy and many more.
In Meath there is a walk organised for Girley Bog by Trim man Ronan Gargan, who is a journalist and also is a local restaurant manager in the Supermac's restaurant in Trim. The local popular walk will see people from across the county and further afield come together to support the fundraiser.
The event will start at 11am on Saturday 2 April and will offer a 6km walk or a shorter route of 1.5km, to suit different levels of fitness.
Ronan is inviting everyone on the day to get involved and get out and enjoy the spring air and help a great cause.
Buckets will be at the start and end of the walking trail to collect money on the day for the fundraiser and there is also an online fundraiser that you can donate to also.
Refreshments will be served at the finish line on the day at the outdoor seating area of the bog so why not make this a social morning meeting up with friends and locals alike to support Charlie on the day.
Vicky Phelan took to social media to thank Ronan for organising the walking event at Girley Bog and wished him well in his fundraising efforts for both the Irish Motor Neurone Association and Pieta House.
“I’m looking forward to seeing a big turn out on the day to support these two charities, the work that both organisations do is amazing," said Ronan.
"There isn’t a village or town in the country that hadn’t been affected by death by suicide so the work that Pieta does with helping with suicide prevention and awareness is extremely important and they need a lot of funding to offer there services right across the country.”
“So many of us can remember Charlie Bird in our sitting rooms on the television every evening reporting on stories across the country and Indeed across the world and it’s sad to see him suffering with this disease but this event seems to have given him a lift and going his social media posts that he posts daily he is excited about the climb in April”
“The walks at Girley Bog are suited for people with all different levels of fitness and that’s why when I thought where would I host this it had to be at the Meath bog location. I feel that the importance of fresh air and walking is so important for a healthy lifestyle and healthy mindset, a lot of people forget that.”