Eamon’s 100km walk in one day
AS the 100k in 30 days fund raiser in aid of Breast Cancer Ireland edges closer to the €1million mark, there have been many stories of personal bravery and heroism, from people doing the walk while undergoing cancer treatment or in a wheelchair.
However in terms of sheer physical endurance, it’s unlikely if anyone will surpass the achievement of Blackrock resident Eamon O Muircheartaigh as he completed his 100k for Breast Cancer Ireland not in 30 days but in one day
A pink army turned out to support the Dingle native as he walked ten loops of the village on Sunday June 8, starting at 2am and completing the blistering endeavour at the sundial around 9pm.
Eamon, who is physiotherapist to the Louth Senior Team, opted to do his 100k in one day due to work commitments although he quickly adds that it’s not something he would recommend people to do.
‘I knew what to do and how to look after myself although I couldn’t put my feet under me the next day,’ he says.
His father, the legendary GAA commentator Michael O Muircheartaigh, sent his message of support urging people to get involved in the 100k in 30 days in aid of Breast Cancer Ireland.
It’s a charity which Eamon has raised funds for Breast Cancer Ireland previously through the Pink Ribbon Tour which saw cyclists take on the eight stages of the Ras na hEireann at the same time as the pros were competing.
‘It was really tough, cycling five or six hours a day at full tilt,’ he says. ‘I always enjoyed testing myself so I thought I’d do the 100k in one day. I didn’t realise what the after effects would be - the kids said my feet looked like Hobbit feet and that was not a compliment.’
However, he has no regrets about doing it. ‘It was my little way of helping out.’
He says that when his wife Breffnie Carroll, whose late husband Stephen died for cancer, was organising a charity cycle in aid of the hospice Niall Carroll, who along with his wife Cara, is organising the 100k in 30days, helped her out. ‘It was a easy decision to help Niall and Cara by doing this.’