Limerick garda to carry a 26kg rowing machine up Ireland's tallest mountain
A Limerick garda plans to climb Ireland’s highest mountain carrying a four-stone rowing machine to raise funds for children battling terminal and serious health conditions.
Ken McDonald’s “Carry up Carrauntoohill” fundraiser has a €30,000 target with all monies raised going directly to cover the cost of repairs to Share A Dream’s Dreamland which was broken into a number of times last year.
Once on the summit, he plans to row a distance of 10km on the rowing machine before carrying it back down Carrauntoohill.
Dreamland, a unique all-inclusive fantasy land, located in Limerick, allows non-able bodied children to play with their able-bodied siblings, friends, and family.
McDonald, a champion rower and a training instructor at the Garda Training College in Tipperary shared his motivation for the challenge.
He said: “Last year I met the founder of the Share a Dream Foundation, Shay Kinsella, and to say I was blown away by the amazing work being done by the charity for seriously ill and disabled children all over Ireland for the last 27 years is an understatement.
Not only do Share a Dream make dreams come true for children fighting terrible life-threatening illnesses but they have also built the very first ever all-inclusive magical indoor Fun Centre called Dreamland.
Garda McDonald said the charity relies solely on donations “and the goodwill of the community” and does not receive any government funding.
McDonald explained his decision to raise money for Share a Dream after the Dreamland facility was twice broken into last year. He said: "I decided that I must do something to raise much-needed funds for repairs and to make dreams come true for terminally ill children."
McDonald also hoped to increase the organisation's profile and raise "more national awareness that the charity deserves.”
McDonald, a champion rower, broke the World indoor record over 1000m last November and will be attempting to carry his rowing machine up Carrauntoohill and row 10km when he reaches the summit before carrying the equipment back down again.
The Carry Up Carrauntoohill challenge is set to take place on March 28th and McDonald said he aims to "to raise €30,000 for the Share a Dream Foundation" in order to "rectify the damages they suffered after the break-ins" so that the charity can "continue making dreams come true for very sick children.”
McDonald has asked people to donate online here or else contact 061-200080 to get a sponsor pack.
