Official charity partners for the SSE Airtricity Dublin Marathon 2015 announced

Deric Hartigan, 3e weather presenter and fitness fan extraordinaire has today announced Aware and Multiple Sclerosis Ireland as the official charity partners for the SSE Airtricity Dublin Marathon 2015. A field of 14,000 runners is expected for the event, which takes place on Bank Holiday Monday, October 26^th next and entry is available online now at www.sseairtricitydublinmarathon.ie

 

Aware and MS Ireland are encouraging people to take part in the marathon, raise funds, and help to highlight the important links between physical and mental health. Aware provides support, education and information around depression as well as a range of positive mental health programmes for adults, teenagers and workers. MS Ireland provides information, support and vital services to the MS community, including individual and family support as well as Living with MS programmes. It is estimated that as many as one in ten people across all age groups experience depression at any one time, while multiple sclerosis affects more than 8,000 people in Ireland and is usually diagnosed between 20 and 40 years of age.

Speaking at the announcement Deric called on regular marathon runners and first-timers to join the team: “Taking part in a 26-mile run is indeed a ‘marathon’ undertaking and it is so fitting that the SSE Airtricity Dublin Marathon team has chosen Aware and MS Ireland as the charity partners. For some people who are dealing with depression or multiple sclerosis, even everyday tasks can sometimes seem like a marathon effort. So as a regular supporter of both charities, I really hope that people join our team and use this as an opportunity to raise funds and awareness for both issues and importantly to highlight the fact that support is available and can help.”

 

Dr. Claire Hayes, Clinical Director with Aware says that the organisation is delighted to work with MS Ireland and the SSE Airtricity Dublin Marathon team on this project: “Depression is a common experience and something which can happen for any one of us at any time in life. It can happen for many reasons, and where a person has a diagnosis of a disabling condition such as multiple sclerosis, depression can develop and add a further challenging dimension. Both Aware and MS Ireland work tirelessly to help people find ways to cope with these respective conditions and reduce the effect that they can have. We are delighted that the SSE Airtricity Marathon has chosen both charities as the official partners this year and funds raised will make a very real difference in many people’s lives.”

 

Ava Battles, Chief Executive of MS Ireland highlights the important link between exercise and physical and mental health: “We all know that exercise has a positive impact on our lives; it increases mobility, gives us more energy and helps with stamina too. Exercise improves our mood and many of us will be familiar with the feelgood factor of even the lightest physical activity. Exercise and resilience have a really important role to play in the management of MS symptoms and we are so inspired by the people we meet who have a diagnosis of MS and work to maintain their strongest possible physical and mental fitness.”

 

The SSE Airtricity Dublin Marathon is the 36^th annual marathon in the capital and Race Director Jim Aughney is hoping many runners will get involved and help raise funds for these charities at the same time. “As runners, we all know the value regular exercise has and we want even more people to feel that value this year. And as an added incentive, anyone who signs up for the event before July 31^st will get the special early bird rate of €70.”

 

To join Team Aware & MS Ireland for this year’s marathon simply:

• Sign up for the marathon online at www.sseairtricitydublinmarathon.ie
• Set up your online fundraising page with mycharity.ie or justgiving.com
• Tell the charity/charities! Fundraising@aware.ie or fundraising@ms-society.ie

 

 

About Aware:

Aware is the national organisation providing support, education and information around depression and related conditions to concerned individuals, families and communities. Depression impacts thoughts, feelings, energy and behaviour. It is estimated that as many as one in ten people in Ireland experience depression at any one time. Depression can be an invasive condition as it can impact relationships, self-esteem and work life.

In addition to its Support Groups, Support Mail and Support Line services which are available year round, Aware also provides positive mental health programmes to 30,000+ students aged 15-18 each year, as well as Wellness@Work programmes. The organisation also provides free Life Skills programmes based on cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) which help people learn new ways to deal with life challenges. Aware’s services are regularly independently evaluated.

 

For more information see www.aware.ie

 

About Multiple Sclerosis and MS Ireland:

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is the most common disabling neurological disorder of young adults and affects more than 8,000 people in Ireland. MS is a disease that affects the motor, sensory and cognitive functioning of the body, and is usually diagnosed between 20 and 40 years of age. The variance in presence, severity and duration of symptoms coupled with the intermittent and progressive nature of MS impacts not only the person with MS but also family. There is no known cause or cure for MS.

 

MS Ireland is the national organisation providing information, vital services and support to the MS community. The organisation provides a wide range of specialised services and resources on a national, regional and local level. Services include: Regional Community Worker programmes for one-to-one support; physiotherapy; symptom management courses; newly diagnosed sessions and the MS Information Line, one of the first services used in the time leading up to or following a diagnosis. The MS Care Centre is the only national respite and therapy centre for people with MS in Ireland.

More than two-thirds of the 8,000 people living with MS in Ireland access these resources and all those affected by the condition rely on MS Ireland to advocate on their behalf on any issues which will impact their quality of life.

 

MS Ireland’s main goals as an organisation, are Services Provision; Information; Fundraising; and Research, co-operating with the medical, scientific, social and caring professions to promote scientific research into the cause of, cure for and management of MS, and the alleviation of medical and social symptoms.

MS Ireland staff and volunteers are dedicated to supporting people living with MS, their families and carers.

 

For more information see www.ms-society.ie