Ciaran Weir, who started the challenge nine years ago.

Runners, walkers and cyclists will shortly set off for the ninth annual gallant 15km challenge in aid of St Christopher's Hospice in Cavan .

In the region of a quarter of a million euro has been raised over the previous eight years by this superb fundraising event.

The longer route from the Cathedral in Cavan Town to Cornafean, a route of 15km is available or a shorter challenge from Ballinagh to Cornafean.

Registration for the 15km route takes place at 1pm and the event gets underway at 2pm, while registration for the shorter leg of the challenge begins at Brady's pub, Ballinagh, at 1.30pm with the participants setting off at 2.30pm.

The finishing point for the Gallant Challenge is the Cornafean GAA Clubrooms where all participants will be treated to some complimentary refreshments. Shower facilities/changing rooms are also available there. Sponsorship cards are currently in circulation and MacManus Pharmacies are once again the main sponsors of the challenge.

The chairman of St Christopher's Hospice, Jim Lalor, is encouraging people to participate in the challenge as the much-needed funds raised will be required for future development at the hospice. The chairman also wishes to thank John MacManus, proprietor of MacManus Pharmacies, for his very generous sponsorship of the event again this year.

Mr Lalor says that if you are unable to directly participate through taking a sponsorship card yourself, you might consider helping fundraisers by filling out a line on their sponsorship cards. He says there is a growing need for respite care services in our catchment area and voluntary funding is key to meeting this need.

The chairman went on to thank the HSE and paid tribute to the medical, nursing and catering staff at St Christopher's for the high standard of care delivered there on an ongoing basis and for which the hospice has become renowned.

He added that there should be public awareness of the unique nature of the partnership between the trustees of St Christopher's and the HSE.

The role of the trustees (as representing the voluntary community) is to continue building and developing the critical infrastructure that enables the HSE to provide its medical services at the hospice. Mr Lalor says it is critically important to understand that all funds raised and donated by the voluntary community are ring-fenced for the work of the trustees and that the HSE funds the medical side entirely from its own budget.

"The uniqueness of this sharing arrangement, in the context of medical services, between the voluntary and statutory bodies has to be appreciated. We need to progress the work of this excellent partnership so that planned expansion of services can come to pass," he added.

The chairman concluded by thanking Ciaran Weir and his committee for their ongoing great work year after year in aid of St Christopher's and wished the 'Gallant Challenge' continued success. "Ciaran and the team are deserving of our appreciation for their commitment and dedication." Founder of the challenge Ciaran Weir says he would like to thank the hardworking committee for all their great work and dedication to ensure the event continues to be an outstanding success.