Tadhg’s marathon effort to overcome 5-peak challenge to raise funds for COPE
A YOUNG Rathcoole man has completed a massive physical challenge to raise almost €2,000 for the COPE charity.
Tadhg McSweeney, the son of Timmy and Noreen in Rathcoole, took on the challenge of running, cycling and climbing the equivalent distances and heights of five Munster peaks.
These include Ireland’s highest peak, Carrauntoohil in Kerry, Moylussa in Clare, Knockboy in Cork, Knockmealdown in Waterford and Galtymore in Limerick/Tipperary.
“What the Ultra challenge entailed is a walk or run of 45Km, 1,000 flights of stairs and a 440KM cycle (the distance from Cork city to the foot of each of the 5 mountains),” explained Tadhg.
I needed to clock up the KM’s equivalent to going up and down the 5 Peaks all in a week!.”
Because of the COVID restrictions, Tadhg had to do most of the running, climbing and cycling in his native County Cork.
“I suppose the reason I undertook this challenge in the first place is because my Uncle Patrick attends COPE in Kanturk and I respect and admire the work COPE does and the service they provide is just brilliant,” said Tadhg.
His challenge started last Monday and after work every day he climbed to the top of Clara behind his workplace, Alps Electrical in Millstreet. He also climbed Mushera as a break from his after work hikes up Clara.
During the weekend he climbed the Torc loop in Killarney.
“I do alot of hiking and running but not so much cycling, so the cycling was the toughest,
“In the end I cycled over 440m which somebody told me is more than four Ring of Kerry cycles!”
His efforts have raised €1,811 for the COPE Foundation so far.
“The fund is still open,” he said. People can access the page through my Facebook profile.”