The second Hope 7 Dream 10 event is estimated to have raised €150,000 on Sunday
THE OUTSTANDING success of Sunday morning’s Hope & Dream 10 mile run indicates that the Hope Centre in Enniscorthy and the Share a Dream Foundation look set to receive the intended target of €150,000.
Close to 1,500 people entered the mammoth race, and if each participant raised €100 or more, which is expected, the target fund should be reached.
Event Chairman Tom Herlihy said that although he is hopeful that the €150,000 has been raised, he still cannot make a prediction as money is still coming in and the final figure will not be known until next month.
1,497 people took place in the event, which kicked off at 10.15 a.m on Sunday from the Promenade in Enniscorthy.
Mr. Herlihy, who along with John O’Leary founded the idea for the race back in September 2011, said that he was over the moon with the turn-out on the day, which was an increase from the 1,373 entrants last year.
Deeming the day as “mighty”, he said he was delighted with the outcome after many months planning.
He congratulated the achievements of all the entrants, who battled freezing temperatures and icy winds to complete the ten mile stretch, and in particular Tom Hogan, who “defended his title from last year” by coming first again at a time of 56 minutes 39 seconds.
Mr. Herlihy also thanked the many people who made the fundraising event happen, including the 150 stewards, sponsors and Gardaí.
“And of course the participants, all 1,497 of them,” he said. “Without them we couldn’t do it. The support was incredible. People came from Turkey, Finland, England – all over – to show their support and take part.”
He added that one Turkish man who had to return home unexpectedly brought his race number back with him and continued to run the ten miles at 10.15 a.m when everyone else on the Prom took off. “That’s the kind of goodwill that is out there,” Mr. Herlihy said.
The funds raised by the painstaking efforts of all the runners, joggers and walkers will soon go towards the Hope Cancer Support Centre in Enniscorthy and the Share a Dream Foundation.
