Macroom GAA members going ‘Around the World in 80-Days’
JUVENILE CLUB TAKING A LEAF OUT OF JULES VERNE’S CLASSIC NOVEL IN A BID TO RAISE €20K FOR CHILDREN’S CHARITIES
MEMBERS of the Macroom juvenile GAA club are following in the footsteps of Phileas Fogg and his faithful valet Passepartout by collectively ‘going around the world in 80-days’ – without even leaving the town.
However, unlike the protagonists in Jules Verne’s classic book they are not taking on the mammoth challenge to win a wager; instead, club members are walking/running the equivalent of circumnavigating the globe in order to raise money for children’s charities.
Retired Macroom GP and club physio liaison officer, Dr Con Kelleher, told The Corkman the GAA club has been involved in several community activities. These have included the ‘Helping the Community’ initiative delivering meals to homes, shopping for the elderly and supporting local nursing homes.
“Many volunteers get more from doing this than the recipients do – it’s a win-win situation,” said Con.
This set members thinking about ways of raising money for children’s charities, eventually hitting on the idea of the 80-day challenge to ‘walk the world’, collectively covering the distance of the equators circumference – approximately 24,901 miles (or 40,000 kilometres).
The premise of Jules Verne’s novel ‘Around the World in Eighty Days’ was that the intrepid duo would complete their challenge in 80-days to win the £20,000 wager.
“We have set a target of €20,000 and the gamble is that members and sponsors will rise to the challenge, run/ walk the distance and raise the money in 80-days,” said Con.
Agriculture Minister Michael Creed was on hand to help launch the fundraiser in the grounds of Macroom Castle alongside Ritchie Graham, a member of the Macroom senior county winning teams of 1958 and 1962, and his granddaughters Lilly and Maisie Murphy, both accomplished Gaelic footballers.
“Ritchie represented the cocooners, while Lilly and Maisie represented the younger generation also underlining the continuity of Macroom GAA Club,” said Con.
Among charities which will benefit are the children’s ward in the Cork University Hospital and Muskerry Special Olympics Club.
“The children’s ward does brilliant work at all times and COVID-19 has emphasised the value of nurses’ and allied workers’ contribution in particular. Heroic is the word often applied and is entirely apt,” said Con.
“Founded in 2002 the Muskerry Olympic Club important work around Macroom and caters for people of a wide age-range. The group trains in Macroom Sports Complex on Thursday nights, and the coaches and organizers are all volunteers. More volunteers and equipment are needed to cater for the various sports, and money is badly needed. A successful fundraiser will help greatly in the efforts of Muskerry Olympic Club,” he added.
A Go Fund Me page (www.gofundme. com/f/macroom-juvenille-gaa-communityfor online donations, with details of how to join the initiative available at www.macroom.ie or from a member of the juvenile committee.
“Many people are already taking part and it is hoped that more will follow their lead, join the fun, get fit and do good for others,” said Con.