Tag Archives: Kerry Four Peaks Challenge

Four Peaks Challenge Raises Nearly €55,000 For Great Cause

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Padraig McGillicuddy with TJ O’Connor and Andrew Foley during the Four Peaks Challenge last Sunday.

THREE friends completed the remarkable feat of climbing Ireland’s toughest peaks in less than 24 hours to help out two children bravely battling a rare condition…and their efforts have raised nearly €55,000!

Alannah and Adam Foley, two children from Killorglin, bravely fighting Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1), have captured the hearts of their community.

In a remarkable display of support, the trio of friends embarked on The 4 Peaks Challenge last Sunday in a bid to raise awareness and funds for the siblings’ ongoing treatment.

Continued below…

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Father of Alannah and Adam, Andrew Foley was joined by TJ O’Connor of the MTU and Proprietor of Ballygarry Estate, Padraig McGillicuddy, in tackling Carrauntoohil (1040m) in Co. Kerry, Mweelrea (841m) in Co. Mayo, Slieve Donard (840m) in Co. Down, and Lugnaquilla (925m) in Co. Wicklow, amazingly completing the four in 23 hours.

“It was an amazing and wholesome feeling to climb for this cause,” said Padraig McGillicuddy. “The Foley family have had a lone journey that is now shared through a community. The opportunity to help was unsurpassable especially when you meet Alannah and Adam. These kids are extra ordinary, unique and so deserving of support.

“Lastly I don’t know if I’ve ever seen such a sense of community as that which surrounded the family this past month culminating in this weekend,” concluded Padraig.

So far the Neuro GoFundMe page has raised nearly €55,000 showing that the efforts of the community can really make a difference.

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Kevin Looks For Hikers To Take Part In Kerry Four Peaks Challenge

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Will you take on the Kerry Four Peaks Challenge?

CLIMBERS are being asked to consider taking part in a fundraising event this summer to climb four of Kerry’s highest peaks in two days.

Organised by Ballyduff man, Kevin Maguire, this will be the seventh year of the Four Peaks Challenge and it takes place on Friday, June 29 and Saturday, June 30.

“It’s a challenge where we climb four of Kerry’s highest mountains in two days — two each day,” said Kevin. “One of which will be Carrauntoohil, the others haven’t been decided yet for this year. There are hikers from all over the country who do this every year and raise money through sponsorship cards.”

Kevin chose the Kerry Hospice Foundation as the beneficiary, as his uncle died some years ago in hospice care. If there is anyone interested in the event you can call Kevin Maguire on 0863943508 or on facebook Kerry Four Peaks Challenge for more details.

PHOTOS: The Kerry Four Peaks Challenge Raises Over €2,000 So Far For Kerry Hospice

 

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Climbers after finishing the ‘Kerry Four Peaks Challenge’ this year in aid of the Kerry Hospice Foundation.

THE Kerry Four Peaks Challenge has come and gone for another year with last weekend seeing 17 local and non-local climbers take on the toughest peaks that the Kingdom has to offer over a gruelling two day period.

The climbs were more than just a physical challenge for those taking part, they were also part of a larger fundraising campaign by the group as they looked to raise some much needed funds for the ‘Kerry Hospice Foundation’.

It has proven to be a huge success with climbers having so far raised a huge €2,000 for the hospice, with more donations expected to to come in during the next few days and weeks.

Kevin Maguire was one of the main organisers behind the trek, which saw the group make the arduous climb up Carrauntuohil, Mt Brandon, Purple Mountain and Cahir Mountain.

“It was very good now,” said Kevin, talking recently to TraleeToday.ie. “We started off last Friday morning at about 7.30am and we went up Carrauntuohil first. There was about 17 of us, there were people from Dublin, Wexford, Limerick, Tipperary, all over the country really. We had someone who came over from America as well,” he continued.

“The weather was mixed on the way up [Carrauntuohil] but it cleared when we got to the top which was very nice, and after that we headed up Purple Mountain, just on the Gap of Dunloe. We had lovely weather for that too as well, it was beautiful.”

“We had an early start again on the Saturday morning as we headed up Cahir Mountain, and we were very tired at this point. Then after this, we headed over to Mount Brandon where an extra 12 people met us there. We had a few well earned pints then after all of it on Saturday evening I’ll tell you,” Kevin laughed.

Well earned indeed after four difficult climbs, but the climbers can rest up now and start planning for next year’s event, it’s only 51 weeks away after all.

Scroll down to see some photos from the weekend…

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Climbers at the ‘Kerry Four Peaks Challenge’ this year in aid of the Kerry Hospice Foundation.
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Climbers at the ‘Kerry Four Peaks Challenge’ this year in aid of the Kerry Hospice Foundation.
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Climbers at the ‘Kerry Four Peaks Challenge’ this year in aid of the Kerry Hospice Foundation.
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Climbers at the ‘Kerry Four Peaks Challenge’ this year in aid of the Kerry Hospice Foundation.
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Climbers at the ‘Kerry Four Peaks Challenge’ this year in aid of the Kerry Hospice Foundation.
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Climbers at the ‘Kerry Four Peaks Challenge’ this year in aid of the Kerry Hospice Foundation.

 

Kerry Four Peaks Challenge To Raise Money For Kerry Hospice Foundation

 

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Members of the 2014 training group after finishing last year’s Four Peaks Challenge.

SEVENTEEN local and non-local adventurers are currently in the middle of training for the arduous  ‘Kerry Four Peaks Challenge’ which will take place on June 26 and June 27.

The challenge is being organised by Kevin Maguire from Ballyduff and will help to raise money for the ‘Kerry Hospice Foundation’ with Carauntoohill, Mt Brandon, Purple Mountain and Cahir Mountain being the four peaks they hope to climb.

“It’s [the training] going good now, we do it about once a week,” Kevin told TraleeToday.ie. “The walks are getting tougher and tougher now as we go on. This weekend, we’re going up Carauntoohill. At the start, it was all short walks, but we’re getting really into it now,” said Kevin.

So why did he choose the ‘Kerry Hospice Foundation’ as his charity?

“It’s because my uncle died in hospice care up the country and I work in a hospital myself. I’m a care assistant you see and I’ve a keen interest in hiking so I just put the two of them together just to raise a bit of funds really,” he continued.

Kevin is hoping to raise €500 for the foundation, having so far raised €157.

Members of the public are welcome to join in on the Mt Brandon climb, with the other three climbs restricted for health and safety reasons to those who are adequately prepared and who have done training.

Those looking to make an online donation can do so through the fundraising page here.