– Legends line out to launch the Team Relay event & help raise €3m for charity-
GAA All-Stars teamed up with former Irish rugby hooker Frankie Sheahan to launch the Team Relay Event of the Bord Gáis Energy Cork City Marathon, taking place on bank holiday Monday, June 7th, 2010. The event hopes to attract a record 10,000 participants this year and raise €3million for over 150 different charities, a figure that will be mostly driven by relay teams registering to run for charity.
For once, Cork GAA all-stars Graham Canty (Cork Football), Joe Deane (Cork Hurling), Orla Cotter (Cork Camogie) and Angela Walsh (Cork Ladies Football) and rugby’s Frankie Sheahan lined out on the same team yesterday in support of the marathon charity effort. Designated team spokesman, Cork hurler and cancer survivor Joe Deane said that their shared ambition to raise as much money as possible for their chosen charity, the Irish Cancer Society, was the spur that drove them to join forces. “Each year the Team Relay event generates much needed funds for well deserving charities and this year we want to do our bit for the Irish Cancer Society. I’m confident that a corner-forward would seriously out-pace a full back and a rugby hooker but that remains to be seen!” said Deane yesterday.
Bord Gais Energy Marathon Ambassador Sonia O’Sullivan also chipped in from her Melbourne base. “Now is the time to get your entry in to motivate you to be ready for the big day. And if you want a hand with your training I’ve done up a full training plan for runners of all levels that you can see on readysteadycork.com. Just follow my link and get running!” the Olympic Silver Medallist said.
The team relay event in the Bord Gáis Energy Cork City Marathon has become hugely popular – over 1,200 teams took part last year. With stages between 4.6 and 5.8 miles long, the relay is open to teams made up of between 2 and 5 people. It offers runners, casual joggers and walkers of all abilities an opportunity to run the exact same course of the marathon without having to complete the full 26.2 miles.
Jim O’Donovan, Race Director said “The Team Relay event draws a fantastic mix of people – we have people in their 60s and 70s running the course, along with teams made up of work colleagues and friends who run to get fit and raise money for charity. “This year we’ve even got people flying in from far-flung places like California and Australia to take part, so the 7th of June looks set to be a smashing day out for participants and supporters lining the streets. We can’t wait and would urge people to spread the word for the Team Relay among their friends and work places – the more money we can raise for charity all the better.”
Relay distances
Team members take one leg each (in teams of five), or take two or more consecutive legs in whatever combination suits them. The relay legs vary in distance as follows:
- Start (Patrick’s Street) to near Silversprings Hotel: 5.2 miles (8.3km)
- Silversprings to Ringmahon Road: 5.5 miles (8.9km)
- Ringmahon to Victoria Road: 5.8 miles (9.3km)
- Victoria Road to Model Farm Road: 5.2 miles (8.4km)
- Model Farm Road to finishing line (Patrick’s Street): 4.6 miles (7.5km)
Those interested in running the Team Relay event can download and post their entry form or enter online at www.corkcitymarathon.ie.
For more information please contact Aideen McGrath or Rhona Cashman, H+A Marketing + PR. Telephone: 021-4666200 / 087-9273698 / 087 6978477.
Email: rcashman@hagroup.ie or amcgrath@hagroup.ie
Or
Stiofáin MacDháibhéad, Bord Gáis Energy. Tel: 01 6021116 / 087 7991206
Email: smacdhai@bordgais.ie.