#10yearchallenge
Calling all athletes, runners and walkers to
participate in this year’s 10thannual charity 10km ‘Run for Ollie’ which takes
place in Milltown, Co. Galway, on Saturday 15th June 2019in aid of Ollie Burke.
This event is organised each year by Ollie’s friends to raise funds for his
daily medical care, and it promises to be a competitive and fun event for all.
So, who is Ollie? Ollie Burke is a 43year old former
electrician, who fell from a ladder, while carrying out electrical work in
2007. He suffered severe head injuries, which resulted in an acquired brain injury.
Ollie spent sixteen months in hospital following the injury which has left him
severely incapacitated and requires 24 hour care ever since.
This year will be the 10th anniversary of the Run
for Ollie. The ten years have flown by for us as an organising committee but
for Ollie and his family those ten years may not have gone as quickly. Ollie
continues to live with his acquired brain injury which will always present lots
of challenges for his family. Ollie’s outward appearance may seem ok but his
condition has been compared to minding a 3 year old. Ollie has no comprehension
of danger andhe needs 24 hour supervision. He recognises his family but can’t
communicate how he feels. Ollie is blind in one eye and has limited use of his
left hand. He has also developed serious epilepsy and is prone to regular
seizures. It simply goes without saying that we, and Ollie's family, need all
the help we can get.
So what do we need? In the 10 years since we began
the friends of Ollie the cost of Ollie’s care has gone up considerably. We have,
until now, been able to cover the cost but this is becoming harder and harder.
So this year we are asking everyone who has participated in this event in the
past to come back and do it again. Over the past ten years in excess of 2500
people have completed the run, so it would be great if you could come back to
do it or get a friend or family member to do it on your behalf. We hereby
invite you to undertake this #10yearchallenge.
This year's charity 10km run will take place on
Saturday 15th June 2019 at 3.00pm. Runners and walkers of all ages and
abilities are welcome to take part in the event. Entry is €25 per person. Participants
can register at www.runireland.com.
Registration will also be open at the community centre, Milltown, Co. Galway on
Friday 14th (6pm-9pm) or Saturday 16th (11am- 2.30pm).
We are delighted to have Health West Pharmacy, Ballindine,
Co. Mayo as our Main Sponsor again this year. They are providing free care
packs for the first 100 people to register.
All participants will receive a technical running
t-shirt and medal. Participants will also receive a car wash and coffee voucher
from Maxol, Galway Road in Tuam or/and Ballindine, Co.
Mayo.
Parking, registration, changing and showering
facilities are available at Milltown Community Centre and the local GAA pitch.
To view the route map go to www.friendsofollie.com
For more information on Ollie's story and/or to
donate to his fund please go to www.friendsofollie.com.
For more information contact: Gerard Bowens
086-3884005 or email [email protected] or visit www.friendsofollie.com
