Hopes are high for Skellig Stars challenge
VOLUNTEERS and mentors at the Skellig Stars organisation in Cahersiveen are this week putting the final touches on their ambitious fundraising campaign.
Skellig Stars is a voluntary club that trains 23 athletes – both adults and children – who have an intellectual disability.
The group are currently hoping to raise enough money to help build an eight-lane running track and a climbing frame. The acquisition of a running track would greatly benefit the group as it would help the athletes to compete nationally.
To help achieve this dream, it is hoping to raise €15,000 and have so far raised just under €9,000.
Members of the group are taking part in what they are calling a ‘54321 Challenge’.
The challenge will take place this Thursday, September 6 and will last for four days.
The first day will see the group cycling the Ring of Kerry. On the second day, they will climb Carrauntoohill, before they cycle to Dingle on the third day and climb Mt Brandon.
Finally, on the fourth day, the group will finish their fund-raiser by cycling all the way from Dingle to Killarney.
There will be 13 people taking part in the challenge in aid of Skellig Stars, and one of those is Marian Kelly, who says that, when built, the new race track will be a Godsend for the group.
“Right now we are having to use the An Ríocht track in Castleisland, which is a fair trek. Having our own will help improve our training so much,” she said on Monday.