Locals set to run 10k in virtual fundraiser
PREPARATIONS ARE UNDERWAY AS ABOUT 40 LOCALS SET TO TAKE PART
GOREY WOMAN Majella Robinson is asking for your support as she and a team of about 40 locals take part in a virtual version of the VHI Women’s Mini Marathon for Make A Wish Ireland.
Following the postponement of the popular event due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the virtual event will take place on Saturday, May 31 and asks supporters across the country walking, jogging or running ten kilometres in their local area.
In April of last year, Majella and her husband David along with their children Sarah, Conor, Dáithí, Charlie, and Jack all took off to Iceland for an epic adventure which was granted by Make A Wish.
During the unforgettable trip, they experienced the beauty of the blue lagoon, took on a glacier hike and by night, saw the sky light up with a phenomenal light show which Majella described as very special.
‘For people that are in that situation, it’s just an amazing thing that you get this time out away from hospitals, away from everything and it’s just you as a family. It’s just something so special that you can’t actually describe what it means.
‘Make A Wish are just unbelievable, the way they have everything done out. They had sent Sarah a portfolio and had the itinerary of each day done out day by day. Now for us it’s just memories that are going to last forever of that special time that you have with everybody with just the family. You always knew about Make A Wish but never in a million years did I think that it was as big as what it is’.
The Robinson family and the whole community of Gorey are still mourning the loss of Sarah, the Gorey Community School student who passed away in July 2019 aged just 17 after a battle with a rare form of cancer, osteosarcoma.
Those memories of Iceland is something Majella says the family cherish forever, and it just so happened that Sarah hoped to complete the Mini Marathon herself in order to raise funds to help grant more wishes.
Last year, friends of Sarah completed the mini marathon in her honour wearing ‘team Sarah’ t-shirts and raised money for treatment and now Majella along with a team of friends and family will now take on the challenge in her memory.
‘Sarah was going to do the 2020 marathon because she wanted to get funds back to Make A Wish after granting her wish, she wanted to make other peoples’ wishes come through. When it came to the time then, she just told me that I was going to have to do that for her now. Forty odd girls had signed up to do the mini marathon this year, everyone was doing this because of Sarah. They were going to do it again this year because it was Sarah’s wish to do it.
‘The massive thing is that the marathon isn’t going ahead this year and all the charities including Make A Wish need the funds. Wishes aren’t being granted at the minute with the epidemic and there’s a back log. There are kids who will be waiting for when everything gets back running and Make A Wish will need the vital funds to grant all those little kids with their wishes and make them come true,’ said Majella.
Make A Wish Ireland are very grateful to every man, woman or child who signs up for the Virtual Mini Marathon as the charity is suffering financially due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Since 1992, Make A Wish has granted wishes for more than 2,600 brave children across Ireland and now more than ever, the charity is committed to delivering magical, life-changing wishes to children and their families.
Participants can register to take part or just donate with a minimum €10 and share their 10K journey online, with all asked to follow government advice on social distancing and stay within the permitted distance of their homes.
Register now on makeawish.ie or www.justgiving.com/fundraising/make-a-wish-vmm.