Rock’s Run Against The Sun a huge success

Last weekend the young Dublin GAA Academy footballers, in a a show of solidarity to senior footballer Dean Rock, participated in his Run Against The Sun 150km - a fundraising challenge for Stewarts Care.

The efforts of the Dublin developement squad footballers, organised by Dublin County Board Football Development Officer Stephen O'Shaughnessy, has so far brought in over €8,000 while Dean's central fundraiser has totalled over €52,000.

Dean and four of his work colleagues at Stewarts Care began their fun last Friday morning at 5.50 and concluded it at 7.37pm.

“It got sore after about 15km,” said Dean, who completed his 30km with 'plenty left in the legs'. “We’re lucky in that we’re in the sport centre here, so we had foam rollers and treadmills and the pool, just to keep ourselves moving between runs.”

The target was originally set at €15,000 but the donations continued to flow via their gofundme page, with Dublin ladies footballers and teams from all over Ireland getting on board in this fundraising drive.

“It’s a totally different type of energy,” he outlined. “Just the stop/start nature of doing five kilometres six times a day – it’s just completely different to anything I’ve done before.

“It was hard. It was harder than I thought it would be.”

Stewarts Care is one of the largest disability service providers in the country, providing support to over a 1000 people with intellectual disabilities and Dean is their fundraising manager.

LUSK MAN AARON DUFFY FUNDRAISING FOR CRUMLIN CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL

Round Towers Lusk senior footballer Aaron Duffy is currently undertaking a fundraiser for Crumlin Children's Medical and Research Foundation.

Aaron was a member of the 2017 Dublin All-Ireland winning football panel, under current senior manager Dessie Farrell, having played on county development squads all the way from under-13 and was a Dublin minor in 2016.

He has currently completed over 140km of his 250km in 20 days run for CMRF Crumlin which will conclude on Wednesday, March 13.

Last year Aaron helped his club to SFC2 honours when beating Whitehall Colmcille in the final having overcome Cuala after extra-time in their semi-final a week previous.

Aaron enjoyed an eventful day when they saw off the Dalkey men as after helping his side to victory in O'Toole Park he travelled to Castlebar and came on as a second half sub for The Underdogs in their encounter with Mayo in MacHale Park, Castlebar.

The link to Aaron's fundraising page is https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/aaron-duffy...

MUN 'PUT SHOULDER TO THE WHEEL'

The sponsored cycle undertaken recently by Ballymuck Kickhams in aid of St Clare's Ward in Beaumont Hospital, in memory of the late Kickhams chairman Declan Small, has now closed off.

The highly successful initiative, with Declan's sons, Dublin footballers John and Paddy, taking a leading role, raised €31,440 and the club look forward to presenting a cheque to Beaumont soon.

Ballymun Kickhams wishes to thank all the participants and all who generously donated to the fund.