Thank you Sharon and Mark
WEST Muskerry AC has thanked Sharon Coleman and her brother Mark Coleman for thinking of the athletics club when they set about on their fundraising drive in memory of their father Patsy Coleman whose 30-year anniversary is this year.
Patsy Coleman loved running and he was extremely proud to be a member of the West Muskerry AC. And he took great pride when he put on the ‘Blue and Orange’ singlet. He loved road races and cross country and ran many for the club.
Patsy had set himself a goal and it was to run the Dublin City Marathon. He and his fellow team mates – Martin Coughlan, Tony Daly and Damien Lacey – trained five days a week together in preparation for the marathon.
All four successfully completed the marathon which was a fantastic achievement. Patsy completed the marathon in 3 hours and 24 mins. Sadly, just two weeks later, Patsy died in a tragic accident at the age of 28.
Sharon, with the help of her brother Mark and family, organised 45 athletes to compete in the Cork City Marathon and she raised an impressive €1,770 for the West Muskerry Athletic Club and a further €1,822 for Marymount.
Sharon had never run, so she not only achieved raising a huge amount of money, she also completed her leg of the relay in the Marathon in memory of her father.
The money she raised for the athletics club will be of great help with the development of their new training grounds which the club purchased at the start of the year.
It will also help all the athletes, special Olympic athletes and Paralympic athletes, to continue to stay fit and healthy, have fun and compete to the best they can.
West Muskerry AC say they are extremely grateful to Sharon and her family and Patsy’s memory and pride in the club will never be forgotten.