Irish Life Dundalk worker preparing for hardest ever shift to raise funds for charity

Louth woman Paige Gernon is in training for what’s promising to be her most demanding day’s work ever.

The Irish Life employee is going to spent an entire shift on Friday April 26 walking loops around around Dundalk to raise funds for the Down Syndrome Centre North-East.

In embarking on this demanding challenge, she is literally following in the footsteps of her colleague, Brian Duff last year.

Brian had clocked 59,000 steps when he undertook the gruelling challenge in blazing sunshine to raise funds for Irish Life’s 2023 charities – Child Vision and the Gavan Glynn Foundation.

This year. Paige, from Louth village, is walking in aid of the Down Syndrome Centre North-East.

She was inspired by her niece four-year-old Robyn Smyth to nominate Down Syndrome Centre North-East as one of Irish Life’s staff charity partners for 2024, along with the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association (IMNDA).

“Robyn goes to the centre every week and loves it,” Paige said.

She said her niece attends speech and language therapy and schools readiness classes, as well as summer camps and other events.

“The centre is a great support to her and her family, especially her parents Stephen and Niamh. It’s an amazing resource.”

Paige said that her beautiful little niece has been such an inspiration to her and she is constantly amazed at her determination.

She will be channelling this determination as she takes part on the sponsored walk on April 26.

It sees her setting off from the Irish Life offices at the Finnabair Estate after she clocks in at 8am and walking loops around the south side of Dundalk until her shift finishes at 4pm, with just a half hour break for lunch.

She will be accompanied by five different colleagues as she walks each 50 minute loop.

Paige is preparing for the daunting challenge by getting the miles in around her Louth village home with the help of her dog.

She also got a walking pad so that she can clock up the miles when it’s raining so heavily that even her dog refuses to leave the house.

“Brian got a dry day when he did the walk last year, so I’m hoping that it will have rained itself out by the time I do it.”

Although dreading the prospect of blisters, Paige is looking forward to the challenge in aid of a charity close to her heart.

“It is such a pleasure to be a part of the staff charities group, it gives a real sense of accomplishment and everyone has been so supportive so far this year & I am truly looking forward to all the events in the coming year ahead.”

Last year, Irish Life raised €5,555 for their staff partner charities and have set a challenge to try beat it this year.

Representatives from both Down Syndrome Centre NorthEast and IMNDA will be in attendance at the Irish Life centre on the morning to talk to staff about their charity, the great work they do and what it means to partner with the company.

They will have donation buckets and card machine for people who want to support Paige and there is also a GoFundMe page for the event https://gofund.me/6d7d4c5e