THE GREAT SOLO RUN

Tyrone GAA club Drumragh Sarsfields announces 'The Great Solo Run', in association with The Michaela Foundation. This will see 150 of Drumragh's members solo a football, in relay, for the entire 115 miles from their home grounds at Clanabogan outside Omagh to Croke Park, Dublin.

The solo run starts on Saturday August 27 and will reach Croke Park on Sunday afternoon, August 28 (to coincide with the All-Ireland SFC semi-final).

Drumragh chairman Adrian O'Kane explains: "We have two aims: one to raise some much needed funds to complete our capital development programme and, secondly, to contribute to the charity being launched to commemorate Michaela.

"Fundraising needs to capture the imagination and this initiative certainly has done that. Primarily we will look to our members, and anyone who wishes to take part, to raise sponsorship and we will be asking businesses across the country to help us in whatever way they can. The sponsorship money gathered will go towards our development programme.

"In addition, our route to Croke Park will take us through some 14 towns and villages and the donations which we will collect from the public on our way will go in their entirety to the Michaela Foundation.

"We are very proud to have the opportunity to contribute to a cause which is, and will be, in the hearts of every GAA man, woman and child."

Event co-ordinator and club man, is Gerry McGurgan.

"Logistically it is a huge operation which will see 150 of our members solo the ball for approximately ¾ miles each," he said.

"It will take us 30 hours, non-stop and through the night, and will end with the final leg arriving at Croke Park on All Ireland semi-final day, 28th August.


"Our club members have enthusiastically embraced the scheme. We have a hard working event team with a number of energetic sub-committees.

"A comprehensive event plan has been completed, all relevant authorities have been consulted, permissions secured, and insurance cover obtained."

It is estimated that the ball will go through 36,000 solos and Kieran Kennedy of O'Neill's, who sponsored the ball, commented: "We are proud to be associated with The Great Solo Run and this will certainly put the size 5 O'Neill's through its paces. We are more than confident that after 36,000 solos that an O'Neills ball will arrive in Croke Park in great shape."

GAA president, Christy Cooney has endorsed the project.
"I commend Drumragh Sarsfields on this initiative and I look forward to welcoming the final runner to Croke Park on Sunday 28th August. Projects like this are indicative of the sterling work, energy, and ingenuity of our volunteers at club level across the length and breadth of this island and overseas."

More details can be found at www.greatsolorun.net and www.drumraghgfc.net, follow The Great Solo Run on Facebook and Twitter.

About Drumragh
Drumragh Sarsfields is a Gaelic Athletic Club which was formed in 1972 and is, therefore, relatively young in GAA terms. The club is based at Clanabogan three miles west of Omagh in Co Tyrone.

Less than twelve years ago the club has a membership of only 150 people (only 12 of whom were active female participants). Today its membership is close to 600 and it is one of the fastest growing clubs in Tyrone. The club embarked on a massive development programme three years ago and this is the latest in a series of ingenious fundraising projects.

Contact Kevin Donnelly Solo Run PR Co-ordinator on 07912691605 [email protected]

Gerry McGurgan, Solo Run Event Co-ordinator 07748982102 [email protected] Tweet

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