Optimism Pervades Second Emer Casey Memorial Road Race Launch

Posted on April 5, 2008

By Christy Parker | Photos: Michael Hussey( Youghalonline.com)

Cork Senior Hurling Team Players: Kevin Hartnett, Tom Kenny, Joe Deane, Donal Og Cusack, Shane O’Neill and Timmy McCarthy

The second annual Emer Casey Memorial road race was launched at the Mall Arts Centre last Friday night. Mayor Dave Savage, fellow councillors, representatives of An Garda and Youghal athletics club, other assorted guests and a six-strong consortium of Cork hurlers joined the Casey family for the occasion.

The race, over 10km, will be run on Sunday May 25th with participants again traversing a landscape beloved of Emer, setting out from Pobalscoil na Trionoide, down Summerfield Cross before meeting the beach and Lighthouse Hill on the way through town and back to the Front Strand. Dublin solicitors, Matheson, Ormsby & Prentice, for whom Emer worked, will again sponsor the event in conjunction with the Emer Casey Foundation. The first male and first female finishers will receive perpetual trophies. Showers and refreshments will be available afterwards

In a brief address, Mayor Savage said the Town Council felt “honoured” to support the race and hoped it would continue to do so for many years to come. He said he was personally “privileged to have known Emer” and remarked on her “great sense of energy and vibrant spirit.” The Mayor congratulated her family on their “great dedication and commitment towards the memorial run and the fundraising efforts that are making a tremendous contribution to all people, current and future, who suffer from cancer. There is complete admiration for you all from everyone here and we send our best wishes for always,” he concluded.

Aged just 28, Emer lost her life to cancer in 2006. The youngest of five girls to Brendan and Juliette Casey, she was an extensive and adventurous traveller and an active, dedicated sports fan. Her considerable energy and kindness also saw her participate in many road races of the kind which now carries her name. Emer was particularly devoted to Cork hurling and was sister-in-law to former Cork Senior coach Seanie McGrath.

Speaking at the launch, Cork senior hurling goalkeeper Donal Og Cusack said that the Cork hurling squad was “absolutely delighted to be associated with the race.” He recalled that, “Emer was an avid Cork hurling supporter and often cut short or interrupted holidays abroad to get to Thurles or wherever to follow the team.”

In a particularly interesting aside for Cork hurling fans -especially given Cork’s recent ‘troubles’- the net minder further emphasised a strong allegiance to Seanie McGrath. He recalled Sean Og O’Hailpin’s recent efforts in describing the former coach as “brilliant, intelligent -with eccentric also put in there! Sports people,” he proceeded, “come across a lot of people who have an effect on you and we’ve been very lucky to have come across Seanie McGrath. Cork enjoyed a phenomenally successful period between from 2003-06 with a lot of great people involved, he added, before concluding that, “it’s safe to say the most important and most inspirational was Seanie.”

A distinct air of optimism permeated the relaxed gathering, much of which was owed to last year’s race and its heroic aftermath. Emer’s sister Susan put words to the wonder when she described how over 800 participants had braved atrocious weather. Some casual, some competitive, local numbers were swollen by arrivals from as far distant as Switzerland, Germany, the US and Australia to pin the medal of success on the inaugural event. Throughout the year, the race sponsorship funds were augmented by further fundraising events.

The Casey family had pledged the Foundation towards “raising public awareness of uterine and ovarian cancer and to provide support for families and patients.” Now, “thanks to the overwhelming support and enthusiasm” of supporters,” Susan informed the gathering, “the Foundation can make an initial donation of €160,000 to the DISCOVARY research consortium, which is directly engaged in addressing the pathogenesis of this most silent and deadly cancer affecting women.”

The DISCOVARY consortium comprises researchers from several Irish institutions. As Susan explained, “Their aim is to develop a test for the early detection of ovarian and uterine cancer and, potentially, save many lives.” The consortium’s director is Prof. John O’Leary, who is also director of pathology at the both Coombe Women’s hospital and Trinity College, Dublin.”

The Emer Casey Foundation will now provide the consortium with fully fund two full-time, post-graduate researchers for three years. They will be based in TCD and UCD and will focus their research on (a) protein signatures in early and recurrent ovarian cancer and (b) developing novel chemotherapy suitable for ovarian cancer patients.

DISCOVARY researchers consist of gynaecologists, oncologists, pathologists, molecular biologists, bioinformaticians, cell biologists, surface chemists, pharmacologists and nurse specialists. They have constructed a research pipeline that enables them to carry out individual yet linked projects, through investigators from the universities of Dublin, Cork and Galway, as well as Dublin City University and TCD. The consortium also links its research with world-leading professors in America’s George Mason University Centre for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine and with the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of California.

The pain of losing Emer’s “will never leave”, as Susan reasons, but the amazing achievements undertaken in her name in the past twelve months reflect most appropriately the positive, energetic and loving spirit that continues to inspire family, friends and strangers. Long may the roads that Emer Casey walked and loved, impart a fitting tribute to her inspiration.

The Emer Casey Memorial 10k run and walk will take place on Sunday, May 25th at 2.30pm. Sponsorship forms and further details available online at: www.emercaseyfoundation.com
Tel: 087 2838770 e-mail: info {at} emercaseyfoundation(.)com