Join Fitzers 5K on Saturday 24th Feb
THE annual Fitzers 5K Fun Run and Walk takes place once more on Saturday February 24. This is the seventh renewal of the event that was inaugurated by Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick as a means of helping local organisations providing vital services.
The beneficiaries this year will be Maria Goretti Children’s Respite and RehabCare Adult Services, Dundalk to support Art, Drama and Music programmes that they provide.
The Maria Goretti Children’s Respite provides residential respite to 80 families who have children with Autism, Learning Disability or a Physical Disability between the ages of 6-18. The RehabCare Resource Centres in Dundalk provide a day service to adults with Autism, Learning Disability or a Physical Disability. Money raised in this year’s Fitzer 5k will be used to fund Music Therapy sessions in the Maria Goretti Children’s Respite, a Food Garden in the new Resource Centre Hub and an Encore Productions Drama Project.
However, the event is very much one to be enjoyed by all ages from the youngest to sen- ior citizens, who can run, jog, walk the route, pushing along a pram if you like. It is very popular and well supported with the route very flat and ideal for all.
Deputy Fitzpatrick , a sportsman and fitness enthusiast all his life remains very much committed to helping the like of the two beneficiaries who play such an important role in the area in helping out families. He is a driving force behind it and very much to the forefront in organising and running the event.
The format is the same, with the event staged over 5km, with a fixed route, starting and finishing at the Marshes Shopping Centre, with an 11am sharp starting time.
The route proceeds from the Ramparts onto the Avenue Road as far as the Avenue Road roundabout, along the Inner Relief Road and back to the main entrance of the Marshes.
The entry fee is €15 per adult, with a special rate for families, covering two adults and two children of €30. It is open to enter online at https://register.primoevents.com/ps/event/Fitzer5kFunRunWalk/ or call into the Deputy’s office at 2, Court House Square, Dundalk. Alternatively entrants can also register on the day.
Pre registered participants can collect their t-shirt and number (which includes time chip) the day before on Friday 23rd from 6- 8pm at the Ramparts entrance to the Marshes. It is a timed event.
A free t shirt is presented to the first 500 participants, and free refreshments are served on the day.
In taking part the runners, joggers and walkers will all combine to make life somewhat easier for those less fortunate who don’t enjoy the sort of un-inhibited life most do.
The organisers urge all to continue their support in large numbers. Apart from the worthy cause and the exercise that the event provides, a real sense of camaraderie has built up over the years.
There are prizes for different categories of competitors, but the overriding goal is to generate as much funding as possible for the two charities.