How North West 10k has made life that bit more manageable for Donegal group

Marcus Ward and his friends in the Donegal branch of Spina Bifida & Hydrocephalus Ireland know all too well how much benefit an organisation can get from being an official North West 10k benefiting charity.
Back in 2019 - the last time the event was held in a normal race format - the charity was one of three groups to each receive €17,000 from the North West 10k.
That sum was boosted by money raised from a host of fundraising events organised to coincide with the race itself, meaning that a tidy figure was raised for the organisation.
It meant that the Donegal branch of Spina Bifida & Hydrocephalus Ireland was able to purchase a specially adapted bus which three years later, benefits all the group’s members whenever they need transport to different events, or more importantly medical appointments.

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Understandably, Marcus and his colleagues in the organisation are thrilled that their group has once again been selected to be a benefiting charity for the 2022 North West 10k.

Guests, sponsors, committee members and representatives of the various charities pictured at the launch of the North West 10k road race and walk

He represented the group at last Monday night’s event launch in Letterkenny’s Mount Errigal Hotel.
“We know all about the North West 10k and we are very grateful to have the opportunity to benefit again,” he said.
“We know how great the event can be for our charity.
“Our plan last time out was to buy a bus and we were able to do that with the funding that we managed to get.”
The bus is located in Ballybofey, but any of the group members, no matter what part of the county they live in, are able to avail of it when they want.
Marcus is from Ardara, but lives in Letterkenny. He said the charity group is very close knit and the members are quite active.
“We organise all sorts of events, like information days and study days based around disability,” he said.
“We offer respite for our members, and organise fundraising or social events where we can all get together.
“Some of the funding that we raise also goes towards helping people get to medical appointments or get to hospital appointments which is very worthwhile.
“It helps families who may have to travel to Dublin or Galway. It’s a costly experience, especially when you have to travel several times per year.”
The charity plans to host a number of different events in the lead up to this year’s race, including a tractor run, a pony run, a charity bike run and a draw.

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Just recently they held a successful breakfast morning in Churchill which raised over €2,000.
Since their last North West 10k experience, the organisation has lost a valued member with the passing back in 2020 of Frank Larkin.

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Marcus said the group’s members still miss the popular Letterkenny man.
“Everyone knew Frank,” he said.
“He was a huge loss to the town, but also to our own group. He was hugely active.
“He always fought tirelessly for our own group and various other organisations as well. He was very determined to make things better for everyone.”

Marcus Ward addresses the recent launch of this year's North West 10k

Marcus also had a special mention for group member Jamie Lafferty from Bruckless. Back in 2019, Jamie, then aged just ten, completed the event just a year after he had his left hip reconstructed in major surgery.
“He put in a fantastic effort and raised a lot of money for the charity,” Marcus said.
“It really was an inspirational effort from Jamie.”
Marcus however, won’t be following Jamie’s lead when the 25th staging of the North West 10k takes place on Bank Holiday Monday, May 2,
But he will be there on the day, along with many of his group’s members, helping out and collecting some much needed funds for what’s a very worthwhile cause.
This year’s other two benefiting charities are Donegal Diabetes Parents Support Group and the No Barriers Foundation.