DROMIN COUPLE’S CENTRA BACKING
DROMIN couple Paul and Karen McGovern will depart from Mizen Head in Cork on Sunday next, with the aim of walking 1,000km to Malin Head at the tip of Ireland in 49 days.
They are doing the whole thing as a fundraiser for MS Ireland and have just secured a major backer with Centra agreeing to follow them all the way from Cork to Donegal.
Champion Irish race walker Rob Heffernan helped the couple launch the Wild Atlantic Relay for people with MS.
The relay will be led by Paul (37), who is living with MS, along with his wife Karen. The two aim to complete the challenge on Thursday July 20th, supported by MS Ireland branch volunteers and local Centra stores from Cork to Donegal, all passing the baton along the route.
In 2015, Paul, Karen and their dog Nanook walked from Salthill, Galway on the West coast to his hometown on the East Coast.
Shane Lynch, Centra Marketing Manager said: “At Centra we believe in encouraging people to make the most of every day, that’s why we are so proud to support Paul and Karen’s 1000km walk along the Wild Atlantic Way. Centra stores along the route will be hosting fundraising events for Paul and Karen to drive awareness for the cause and we are encouraging people to support.”
Ava Battles, Chief Executive, MS Ireland commented: “We are all looking forward to supporting Paul and Karen in their Wild Atlantic Relay challenge. Their fundraising efforts are admirable and we wish them the best as they set off on June 4th.”
Multiple Sclerosis, meaning ‘many scars’, is the most common neurological disease of young adults and affects more than 9,000 people in Ireland.
To mark completion of the Wild Atlantic Relay challenge, the duo will return home to Louth on Saturday, July 22nd and walk from The Valley Inn, Mullary to The Village Saloon, Dromin (via Dunleer).