Runners gear up for Dublin City Marathon in aid of the hospice

ON Sunday last close to 100 souls participated in the Wicklow Hospice One-Day Festival of Running in and around the grounds of Avondale House and Forest Park.

As at the annual four-day festival, which is held in July, Sunday’s event consisted of a choice of five distances: five, ten, 15 and 20 miles and the classic marathon distance of 26.2 miles.

Many of the participants were using the festival as their final long run ahead of tapering off for Sunday week’s Dublin Ciry Marathon.

Indeed, Wicklow Hospice Foundation will once again be entering a team in the mara- thon. Members of the team are seeking sponsorship for their endeavors.

Among those taking on Dublin for the hospice are Mary Nolan Hickey, who has run every Dublin City Marathon since it was established in 1980, and Bill Porter who is marking his 40th year in running.

To keep up to date with these and other hospice fundraisers, visit the hospice website. And if anyone would like to sponsor Mary or Billy, they will also find the details there.

Construction of the 15-bed hospice is well under way at Magheramore and the facility should be operational by the end of 2019.