Leisure
Challenge The Greenway
By Sheena Oosten
7, Jan 2012 - 15:58

Challenge The Greenway

A new year.... A new challenge....

Back in 2007 Johnny Oosten came up with an idea. This idea centred primarily around creating awareness and raising vital funds for children with Autism in Ireland by means of the Croagh Patrick 7 Day in a Row Challenge. Five years on he has certainly achieved that, having raised over half a million euro (€534,000) for the cause. (www.croaghpatrickchallenge.com)

March 18th†2012 (Bank Holiday) will be the date for his next venture - a completely new challenge and a new cause. This new event is a fundraiser to help the Cystic Fibrosis West team raise the much-needed funds required to build a very specialised day care unit at Mayo General Hospital, Castlebar. This unit will comprise of two isolated en-suite bedrooms (each incorporating positive & negative airflow pressure systems), a treatment room, meeting room, kitchenette, laboratory and a corridor for exercise and bleep tests.

Cystic Fibrosis is Ireland's most common life threatening inherited disease, which primarily affects the lungs and digestive systems. However even with the dedication of CF team, there is a shorter life expectancy for patients in the West of Ireland than in other parts of the UK, Europe and North America. This is due in part to the lack of physical infrastructure once hospitalisation is required. We need to change this, and with your help we can really make an impact! The target for the build is 1 Million Euro...So far they have managed to raise €600,000. We need your help to get them to the finish line. (Mayo Cystic Fibrosis Building Fund)

Challenge the Greenway

The first annual event will take place on March 18th 2012 and the challenge will be to complete the Great Western Greenway - a picturesque off-road walk/cycle trail that traverses Ireland's Atlantic coast and follows the old Achill/Westport railway-line. We will set off from Achill Sound, pass through Mulranny and Newport and finally finish up in Westport.

In August of this year, 32 of us set out to see if it was possible to complete this task in one day and I am delighted to say that all 32 completed the challenge. The distance of the route is approximately 26 miles/43km (a full marathon), however you†can decide how you'd like to complete it. You can choose to walk it, cycle it or even both. It's entirely up to you! Further details regarding the challenge as well as other relevant information can be found on the website - www.challengethegreenway.com.

Think you are up for the challenge? Really want to make a difference? Then simply visit our website at www.challengethegreenway.com and register to take part.

For further information or a radio interview please contact Johnny Oosten on 087 9828 015 / 094 90 23343.

Registration one line open from 11th January 2012.