Drogheda Independent

DULEEK FC 50TH

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A chat over a few pints between friends has resulted in over €10,000 being raised for three great local causes!

Robbie Berrill and Brian Kelly came up with the idea for the 130km Shannon to Boyne walk shortly after the women’s mini-marathon, when they thought, if they can raise so much money for charity, why don’t we give it a go.

The irony is, they ended up with more women doing the walk than men, but it was all for a good cause!

“The response was fantastic and, in the end, nine of us completed the 130km from Carrick-on-Shannon to Slane village,” Brian told the Drogheda Independen­t.

“It was the ultimate challenge for us, and we are so delighted to have raised a great amount of money for SOSAD (Save Our Sons And Daughters), the Gary Kelly Centre and Slane Tidy Towns.”

The training for the marathon walk began over two months ago, but the walk only took the team two and a half days, so the hard work paid off.

“Initially there were going to be seven of us doing the walk - Robbie, me, Dundalk garda Gretta Kavanagh came on board early to help with logistics, Clodagh McConnon, Caroline McGuire, who as a nurse looked after all our blisters and her husband Dermot McGuire, and Helen Berrill– and Brenda Lenihan and Shane joined us on day 2,” adds Brian.

“We also couldn’t have managed without Geraldine Berrill, who followed us in the back-up car, driving at 10km an hour for two days, which took infinite patience!“

They group made their way to Rathowen on the first day, and then onto Trim, before heading to Slane on day 3.

They encountere­d nothing but good will along the way, with cars and trucks beeping their support, and even though they got a bit of a soaking on day 1, the only minor diversion was because of a rave!

“We did have to add an unexpected 10km onto the route thanks to Carl Cox playing in Clonmel, and we thought we were all a bit too old to join in,” says Brian with a laugh.

“But people donated from cars along the way, and to see the great crowd waiting for us at the Round O in Navan to walk into Slane with us was just brilliant.”

Brian’s mum Francis took her own life in 2009 at the age of 69, and Brian has worked tirelessly since to raise the profile of suicide prevention.

“Robbie’s father was recently diagnosed with cancer and is currently undergoing treatment, so we wanted to give to the Gary Kelly Centre,” explains Brian.

“Suicide is the new cancer, and if I had known about SOSAD at the time, perhaps my mum would still be alive and maybe they could have helped her. Any funds they can get are always welcome.”

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 ??  ?? The walkers from Slane.
The walkers from Slane.
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 ??  ?? Robert and Geraldine Mc Keown at Duleek AFC’s 50th Annaversar­y Dinner Dance at the Westcourt Hotel
Robert and Geraldine Mc Keown at Duleek AFC’s 50th Annaversar­y Dinner Dance at the Westcourt Hotel
 ??  ?? Daniel and Sinead Rafferty at Duleek AFC’s 50th Annaversar­y Dinner Dance at the Westcourt Hotel
Daniel and Sinead Rafferty at Duleek AFC’s 50th Annaversar­y Dinner Dance at the Westcourt Hotel
 ??  ?? Teddy Seery who got a special award on the night at Duleek AFC’s 50th Annaversar­y Dinner Dance at the Westcourt Hotel
Teddy Seery who got a special award on the night at Duleek AFC’s 50th Annaversar­y Dinner Dance at the Westcourt Hotel

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