Kinnegar 24-Hour Challenge raises more than €1250 in aid of Inishowen Rivers Trust

The Kinnegar 24-Hour Challenge raised €1,250 in aid of Inishowen Rivers Trust.

The annual challenge sees the Kinnegar Brewing team tackling 24 hours of walking, cycling, running, swimming, horse-riding, roller-blading and more for a cause close to their hearts.

The Inishowen Rivers Trust, established in 2016, is a charitable entity focused on the conservation and restoration of rivers, natural waterbodies, and surrounding lands within the Inishowen Municipal District. The Trust engages in various environmental initiatives aimed at preserving natural habitats and connecting communities with nature.

Dillon McLaughlin on the move in New York

Here is their story:

It wasn’t pretty. For 23 of the 24 hours of this year’s team challenge, the ‘team’ that came most quickly to mind was teeming rain.

Rick LeVert sallied forth in overcast but dry conditions to kick off the annual 24-hout Challenge at 3pm on Friday afternoon. By the time he had completed his two-hour cycle along the beautiful by-roads between Kinnegar Brewing and his home in Rathmullan, rain was falling from the sky.

And it kept falling continuously until Libby Carton sailed over the bridge in Ramelton 23 hours later on the anchor leg of the virtual relay race. She was bone dry by the time she pedalled into the brewery in Ballyraine where the coals were coming nicely to temperature for the Post-Challenge Team Barbeque.

Mia McLaughlin hiked in the Urris Hills on Inishowen

In between the starter and finisher, the local Donegal team members got thoroughly drenched. Damian McFadden hiked at Tramore near Horn Head, Iggy Murray went for a run at Carrickfinn, Rachel Carton finished her brewing shift and cycled home to Rathmullan while Dave McDermott hiked in Gartan.

Jack Ledwith had intended surfing at Ballyliffin at 4am on Saturday but the waves weren’t playing ball so he hiked for two hours around Pollan Strand as night turned into day.

Gregg Irwin walked along both banks of the Foyle in Derry

Kinnegar newcomers Mia McLaughlin, Rob Greig and Gregg Irwin all put in their shifts on two legs, albeit across very different terrains. Mia hiked to the Urris Lakes on her native Inishowen while Rob pounded the concrete pavements of Letterkenny’s urban jungle; Gregg took a lengthy walk along both banks of the Foyle in his newfound Derry home. Paul Sweeney and Angela Gallagher also used their bi-ped skills and walked on the Kinnegar in Rathmullan and around Letterkenny respectively.

Libby Carton Cycled Through Ramelton

The heaviest lifting was done between 1am and 4am on Saturday when Sean McCarthy hiked heroically for three hours around Ards Forest Park as the rain hammered down relentlessly. He was joined by a couple of good pals and he claims that they had a great time, sheltering periodically in the huts along the route. The photos indicate that Sean might actually be telling the truth!

The local team was buttressed by stellar efforts from former Kinnegar colleagues — David Willis in London, Dillon McLaughlin in New York and Felix Firydus in Munich.

Sean McCarthy hiked at Ards Forest Park

All the while Gavin Roughan and Oengus Skehan carried the baton using a very different technique, preparing culinary masterpieces for the Post-Challenge Team BBQ. Their efforts were really, really appreciated as the team sat back with a beer and enjoyed hearing each other’s stories of this VERY wet 24-Hour Challenge!

“The Kinnegar team is immensely proud to have surpassed our €1000 fundraising target”, said a delighted Rick LeVert. “Inishowen Rivers Trust is exactly the kind of group that we love supporting. They believe it’s possible for us to together create a better environment and they work unbelievably hard towards that goal. We’re looking forward to joining them on a visit to one of their field projects soon.”

“The Go Fund Me page will be active until Sunday 28 July and all donations — large or small — are very much appreciated”, adds Sean McCarthy. “You can find the page at the Kinnegar 24-hour challenge on GoFundMe."