Mini Marathon run for children with autism

Women run for a myriad number of worthy causes in the Women's Mini Marathon over the June bank holiday weekend, and a number of women from Cavan are this year again running for various causes. Two Galway women residing in Cavan and Crosserlough native Bernie Nelson are taking part in the event to raise funds to ensure that the excellent summer camp for children with autism at the Holy Family school will run again this year. Aileen Burke and her sister Maura McKiernan grew up near Ballinasloe, but have been residing in Cavan for a number of years. Aileen joined the staff of the Abbott plant in Cootehill in 2004, while Maura has been employed by Gem Oils and Plastics since the early 1990s. The sisters' association with the dynamic Bernie Nelson and supporting children with autism in the Holy Family school goes back to 2007. The first year they ran in the marathon, they raised funds for the autistic unit there. The school is a near neighbour of the Abbott Ireland plant and Aileen had often seen the children in the yard, when she was driving to work. Costly care They require a lot of one-to-one attention and that's expensive, says Aileen. "I get a great response from my Abbott colleagues every year and the money raised really makes a difference to the children," she said. Maura's colleagues in Gem Oils and Plastics near Ballyhaise have been equally generous and between them, the sisters have raised over €2,500. The Summer Camp in Cootehill for the children with autism provides fun activities like swimming, arts and crafts, cooking and picnics. Bernie Nelson, whose son is a pupil at the school, organises the camp and co-ordinates the fundraising efforts for the mini marathon participants. "It is so important for the children and their families to have a Summer Camp We could not fund it without our Mini Marathon participants", says Bernie. Out of all the funding Bernie has been involved in over the past nine years, nothing has been so rewarding as establishing and running the camp last year. "Autism covers such a broad spectrum and it is very challenging work, where you are dealing with so many different levels of the disability. I could not have done this without the help of my son's carer Louise Tully, who organised and ran the camp with me. It was a lot of hard work, but it was all worth it to see the children get so much out of it. It is all about routine and keeping structure in the children's lives," said Bernie. They aim to run the camp over a duration of three weeks this year, but it all depends on how much they raise from the Mini Marathon run. "I am so grateful to all the women, young and old that have joined me over the years. Due to ill health I am no longer able to take part, but I always go along to support them on the day," said Bernie. Both Maura and Aileen would like to thank their colleagues in Gem Oils and Plastics and in Abbotts for supporting their fundraising efforts. "We really appreciate it. Our colleagues have always been generous and it means a lot," both sisters noted. "We are looking forward to the race on June 7 and doing it all again this year," they said. If you are interested in running, jogging or walking in the Mini Marathon this year to raise funds for the Summer Camp for children with autism, contact Bernie Nelson on 086-3540899.