Virtual Moylagh JFK Challenge raises €180K

This year’s Moylagh JFK 50 Mile Challenge annual walk/run raised over €180,000 for Cancer Services in Ireland. This massive achievement comes despite the physical event being cancelled last August due to Covid restrictions. The run went ahead in a virtual capacity with people taking part from all over Ireland and across the world including a large event in Boston, which alone raised over $50,000.

John Farrell, home from Boston, who was on the Boston-Moylagh 5k Family walk committee, presented members of the committee with $50,044 for the Moylagh JFK 50 Mile Challenge 2021. Sincere thanks to everyone who took part in Boston and contributed to this fantastic amount for cancer.

The committee are thrilled with the outcome and have already started planning next year's event. What started out as a once-off event in 2012 has now generated close to €1M (€977k) for cancer charities over the past decade. Organisers are confident of smashing the €1m mark in 2022. The money is split 80% to Irish Cancer Society, 10% to LARCC and 10% to Palliative Care.

The walk next year will go ahead and will cover the three counties of Meath, Cavan and Westmeath.

John and Gerry McDonnell presented the Anna-Francis McDonnell Award to Carmel, Aidan and Colin Tuohy, members of the Golden Wanders team from Tipperary, who raised the most money in 2021 - with €18,488 raised.

Eamonn Sr and Karen Fitzsimons presented the Sadie Fitzsimons Perpetual Memorial Cup to Della Grall, standing in for Karen Carey of Hilltown, Oldcastle, who was the individual who raised the most money this year of €7,657. Well done and best wishes to Karen who is battling cancer and walked 41 miles on the day. The committee thanks all those who participated and supported this year's virtual fundraiser.

Gerry McDonnell, on behalf of the organisers: “We are over the moon with the amount raised and it really is amazing that, in a year where the physical event was cancelled, we raised the most in one year. The committee are already gearing up for next year and come hail, rain or snow we will go ahead!"

If any business would like get involved next year as a sponsor, contact info@50milechallenge.com

Participants and groups can register on the website from January 1, 2022, at www.50milechallenge.com Next year's challenge is planned for Saturday, June 11, 2022.