Galway sisters undertake marathon trek for three deserving charities
Two sisters from Bearna are planning a 75km memorial walk this month – to honour their mother who died last year, and to raise money for charity.
Julie Ann and Maria O’Connor plan to walk from Feakle in County Clare to Athenry, via Gort and Loughrea, in memory of their mother Marie O’Connor who died in October.
The walk will be spread over three days, and they will be raising funds for three nominated charities Ciunas Centre CLG, Western Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Association of Ireland.
On Saturday, April 16, they will depart Feakle in East Clare and walk to Gort, a distance of 26km.
The following day they plan to walk together from Gort to St Brendan’s Community Nursing Home in Loughrea, which is 25km.
They will then walk from Loughrea to Athenry, where Marie used to live and where she is buried. This last leg of the journey takes place on Monday, April 18, which would have been Marie’s birthday.
“As a family we’re all still readjusting and finding our feet and although we know she’s always with us in heart and spirit, it’s her physical presence we’re so missing now.
“I’m doing this walk in honour of her life, as an expression of gratitude for all the times she walked side-by-side with us and others who benefitted from her kind and supportive ways and also as a physical way to help process my grief. I find walking always helps,” Julie Ann said.
Maria said family and friends miss Marie “terribly, but know that she’s with us in spirit everyday”.
She said that they would appreciate any donations, no matter how small, and they will be going directly to Ciunas Centre CLG, Western Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Association of Ireland.
For more information or to make a donation, click HERE