PHOTOS: Final 5K A Day Challenge Raises Vital Funds For Charities

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Noel Kelliher, Martin Moore, Colin Aherne, Yvonne Quill, and William Guiney at the final day of the ‘5k a Day Challenge’ at the Ashe Hotel on Wednesday. Photos by Lisa O’Mahony.

DESPITE the cold weather, walkers took to the road and completed day 31 of the 5k a Day January Challenge on Wednesday evening.

The campaign was organised by Colin ‘Poshey’ Aherne in order to raise vital funds for the Donal Walsh LiveLife Foundation, Kerry Cancer Support Group, and the Make a Wish Foundation.

The campaign successfully reached  their target of €12,000. Each day people were asked to do an activity and to donate €1 to the chosen charities.

Breda Dyland, of the Kerry Cancer Support group, said “The awareness raised was absolutely wonderful. It’s not only about the financial support, its also about awareness. We’re a small local charity and the awareness that this has raised this month has been huge, and we hope that it won’t just continue for the month, but continues from now on. Being active is a huge thing for preventing cancer.”

Continued below…

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Colin said; “This is what I’ve been trying to promote since I started my own journey, three and a half years ago. Exercise changed my life completely. And what I’m trying to do with this challenge is get people up, get them active, and to help them with their mental health, and to really feel the benefits of exercise.”

Participants took off from the Ashe Hotel and received refreshments and medals on their return. Scroll down for photos…

Colin ‘Poshey’ Aherne presenting Edward Carty from the Make a Wish Foundation with a cheque at the final day of the ‘5k a Day Challenge’ at the Ashe Hotel on Wednesday. Photos by Lisa O’Mahony.
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Colin ‘Poshey’ Aherne presenting Jemma Walsh and Jennifer Boyle from the Donal Walsh LiveLife Foundation with a cheque at the final day of the ‘5k a Day Challenge’ at the Ashe Hotel on Wednesday. Photos by Lisa O’Mahony.
Colin Poshey Aherne presenting Breda Dyland of the Kerry Cancer Support Group with a cheque at the final day of the ‘5k a Day Challenge’ at the Ashe Hotel on Wednesday. Photos by Lisa O’Mahony.
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Betsy Hurley, Frank Ryle, Susan Browne, and Anita Ryle at the final day of the ‘5k a Day Challenge’ at the Ashe Hotel on Wednesday. Photos by Lisa O’Mahony.
Colette O’Sullivan, Sean Fealey, Jemma O’Shea, Josie O’Shea, Nora Fealey, Mary Browne, and Trish Horan at the final day of the ‘5k a Day Challenge’ at the Ashe Hotel on Wednesday. Photos by Lisa O’Mahony.
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Eamon Moss, Deirdre Moss, and Sharon Condon at the final day of the ‘5k a Day Challenge’ at the Ashe Hotel on Wednesday. Photos by Lisa O’Mahony.
George Glover, Terry O’Sullivan, Loretta O’Sullivan, Kirsty McTrusty, John O’Mahony, and Caroline O’Mahony at the final day of the ‘5k a Day Challenge’ at the Ashe Hotel on Wednesday. Photos by Lisa O’Mahony.
Rose Doyle, Johanna King, Majella Fleming, and Tracey Lyon at the final day of the ‘5k a Day Challenge’ at the Ashe Hotel on Wednesday. Photos by Lisa O’Mahony.
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Marie Morris, Cathal Morris, Mary Dolan and John Murray at the final day of the ‘5k a Day Challenge’ at the Ashe Hotel on Wednesday. Photos by Lisa O’Mahony.
Mary Browne, Linda O’Loughlin, and Majella Quinn at the final day of the ‘5k a Day Challenge’ at the Ashe Hotel on Wednesday. Photos by Lisa O’Mahony.
Claire Finn, Giles Hoffman and Siobhan Divane at the final day of the ‘5k a Day Challenge’ at the Ashe Hotel on Wednesday. Photos by Lisa O’Mahony.
Martin Moore, Noel Kelliher, Yvonne Quill, and William Guiney at the final day of the ‘5k a Day Challenge’ at the Ashe Hotel on Wednesday. Photos by Lisa O’Mahony.