.
The presentation of a cheque from proceeds raised from the 54321 Challenge was presented to 10 charities last Friday in Killorglin.
OVER €100,000 was raised for ten charities with the 54321 Challenge, this year celebrating its 10th running.
Fifty participants undertook the 4-day challenge, which took place from Thursday August 18 to Sunday, August 21. The 54321 Challenge Committee and participants came back together again on Friday, November 11 at Francie Sheahans in Killorglin to present the cheque to the 10 charities.
The challenge included cycling the Ring of Kerry, climbing Carrantuohill, a cycle from Killorglin via the Ballaghasheen Pass to Cahirciveen and climbing Cnoc Na Tobair with the final day consisting of a 70km cycle starting on the Skellig Ring and finishing in Killorglin.
Continued below…
.
Over 80% of this year’s participants had completed the challenge previously over the first nine years some who have not missed a year since its commencement in 2013.
The Aim of the 54321 Challenge 2022 was to raise €100,000 and this was exceeded by €270.
This is greatly appreciated by the 10 Kerry Charities who benefited The Irish Pilgrimage Trust, Kerry Hospice, Comfort for Chemo Kerry, Adapt Kerry, Skellig Stars, Cystic Fibrosis Kerry, Sera Huskey, Heartbeat Killarney, Alannah and Polly’s Fight for Sight and Scoil Iognaid Ris Dingle.
Jamie O’Shea from Dromid, who had previously completed the challenge over four days, decided to attempt it in just 24 hours which he duly did, completing it in just 22.5 hours.
Jamie decided to fundraise specifically for Skellig Stars Athletics Club which is very close to his heart.
A major contributor to this year’s fundraising efforts were a number of Spinathon Days where this year’s participants, volunteers from all the charities, family and friends took the streets in different locations around the county on spinning bikes.
The total raised to date by the Challenge over the years stands at €400,250 supporting a number of very deserving Kerry charities over the years.
One of the organisers, TJ O Connor, said: “If the last few years has thought us anything, it is too be thankful for what we have, our health is our wealth, and the power of people working together can get us through some of the most difficult situations.”
He also added that spending 4 days with such positive and enthusiastic people should be prescribed by doctors, as their positive energy was infectious and great for the heart and soul.
