Local sport stars pledge support to the Cross Cooley Challenge
Dundalk FC, St Patrick’s GFC and Dundalk RFC all backing event
The launch of the 2017 Cross Cooley Challenge was held at CX+Sport headquarters in Finnabair Business Park on Monday afternoon.
The 15.2-kilometre charity walk will take place on Saturday, April 22nd with all proceeds going to two very worthy local charities, The North Louth Hospice and the Maria Goretti Foundation.
This is the fifth year of the event, which has raised €102,000 to date, and organiser Fergus McArdle said that the aim was to raise as many funds as possible for the two charities.
“The North Louth Hospice and the Maria Goretti Fund are two fantastic organisations,” he said. “Unfortunately, they are at different ends of the spectrum, one at the end of life and one at the beginning of life, so we fully intend on adding to the 102k we have gathered already.”
This is the third year that CX+Sport has sponsored the Cross Cooley Challenge and David Minto said that the local sportswear company was delighted to pledge its support to such a worthy cause.
“At CX+Sport, it’s all about the local community and trying to give something back to it. We’ve been involved for the past three years and we’re delighted to be on board again.
“Fergus hoodwinked me into doing the course last year and told me it would be quite easy! I think he was telling me a little lie! It’s difficult but it’s an amazing feeling when you finish it and it’s a great day for everybody.”
Members from various different sporting codes were present at the launch, including St Patrick’s GFC midfielder — and Louth’s only GAA All Star — Paddy Keenan. Representing another of the event’s sponsors, Cathedral Finance, the Lordship man knows the course well.
“It’s one of the best walks you could ask for,” he said. “You couldn’t look for better scenery or a better view from the top. Hopefully, the weather is nice and there is a good turnout because there is no better place in the northeast to go for a walk or take in some exercise.”
Dundalk RFC’s Jonny Williams was also in attendance and with no fixture scheduled for the Mill Road side on April 22nd, he is eager to tackle the course.
“This will be my first time doing the Cross Cooley Challenge,” he said. “We’ve had games in previous years and I haven’t been able to do it but I’m really looking forward to it and I’ll be pushing as many of the lads as possible to get out and take part.”
Registration for the walk, along with the collection of sponsorship cards and money, will take place on the morning of the walk from 9am at the Greenore Railway Saloon in Dundalk. Alternatively, participants can start the walk at The Lumpers Pub in Ravensdale.
A free bus service will depart from the Greenore Railway Saloon at 10am, taking entrants to the start of the walk at the Lumpers Pub. The buses will return in the afternoon after a well-earned break in beautiful Carlingford.
For more information, contact Errol Boyle on 0868178231 ([email protected]), Seamus Gormley on 0872566034 ([email protected]), Brian Watters on 087 0578697 ([email protected]) or Fergus McArdle on 0872570653 ([email protected]).
