Christmas Dash goes virtual in aid of St Christopher's Hospice

The 10th annual Cavan Christmas Dash goes ahead albeit virtually this year - meaning that there is no fixed location and people can run or walk 5K from their home or wherever they find themselves this Christmas - whether it is in Cavan, Monaghan, London, New York or Sydney!

This year’s event is raising funds for St Christopher’s Hospice in Cavan, which has been providing residential and respite palliative care services for patients with Cancer, MS and MND since 1996 and is the only dedicated palliative care facility in the North East Region, covering counties Cavan and Monaghan.

Plans are now at an advanced stage for the development, by St Christopher's, of a 15-bed specialist Level 3 hospice, operating to the same level of expertise as hospices such as Harolds Cross, Dublin and St Francis's, Raheny. This development has been approved by the Department of Health and the HSE and will ensure that complex end-of-life inpatient care can be available to the population of Cavan and Monaghan. This will call for very significant funding for which the Hospice relies entirely on all available support from the voluntary sector.

This year's Dash is not just confined to its traditional St Stephen’s Day time - People can take part in the Virtual Cavan Christmas Dash anytime they wish over the Christmas weekend – from Christmas Day on December 25, St Stephen’s Day on December 26 and also on Sunday, December 27.

Liam Mimnagh is one of the organisers: "We really hope people, especially our loyal Dash runners and walkers will venture out from their homes this Christmas, wherever they are, and support St Christopher’s Hospice.

"We hope people will encourage their friends and family overseas to also take part this Christmas!"

Registration is available online at www.cavanchristmasdash.ie and remains open until December 27. Entry is €10 per adult and €8 for U16s (excluding processing fees)

Those who take part, can submit their finish time when they have completed their run / walk. "People can manually enter their time or they can use a well-known fitness app called the Strava mobile phone App to measure their distance and record their time," explained Liam.

The submitted results with times and locations will be published on the Dash website after the event on December 28. In addition, everyone will be emailed a digital certificate with their time after the event.

We would love people to share a photo of their run or walk with us on social media with the hashtag #CavanDash2020. "Perhaps put on your Blue and White jersey once more this December in support of St Christopher’s and try to take in the scenery of wherever you choose to go," encourages Liam.

Michael Shiels at The Farnham Arms Hotel, which normally hosts the event on St Stephen’s Day, is giving away €100 to the person with the best outfit/fancy dress costume over the weekend.

"Last year we had an amazing turn out at the Farnham Arms Hotel where up to 700 people turned out to support Cuan Cavan Cancer Support Centre and Friends of Cavan Oncology with over €16,000 being raised – a record for the event," said Michael.

Kerry Mullen, Cuan founder said: “Due to Covid 19 restrictions this year, Cuan’s fundraising capacity has been reduced to zero. The Cavan Christmas Dash 2019 has helped to enable Cuan to continue offering services eg counselling, drop-in (by appointment), on-line supports and courses which are especially important, particularly at this time, for its members."

Cuan is sincerely grateful to the Cavan Christmas Dash for choosing it as one of its charities and raising the amazing sum of €8,317.

Paul McCorry added: “The Friends of Cavan Oncology are very proud to have been associated with the Christmas Dash in 2019 and to have benefited directly from the funds raised by the hardworking committee with their stated focus on helping local charities.

"Substantial funds were raised directly by the committee and through their network of donors and all money is going towards assisting patients treated in Cavan Oncology Unit in Cavan General Hospital and their families as they go through their cancer journey."

Liam concludes: "We encourage everyone, especially in these testing times, to get out and run, jog, walk the 5k [over Christmas]. Join in the fun and help raise funds for our great locally focused charities.“

Since 2011, the Dash has raised over €85,000 for local (Cavan branch) charities such as:

The Alzheimer Society of Ireland

The Multiple Sclerosis Society of Ireland

The Irish Wheelchair Association

The New Ireland Association for Spina Bifida (+ Hat Trick Football Autism Group)

Cystic Fibrosis Ireland

Cavan Autism Parents Support Group – C.A.P.S

Sosad – Save our Sons and Daughters

Enable Ireland – Cavan

Cavan Down Syndrome

Drumlin House Training Centre

Parkinson’s Association of Ireland

Cuan Cavan Cancer Support Centre

Friends of Cavan Oncology