The Mall Arts Centre was again the venue for the launch of the annual Emer Casey Memorial 10km fundraiser. Representatives of local sporting, community and political organisations, emergency service personnel and newly unstressed members of the Cork hurling panel joined the Casey family for an occasion swathed in goodwill, dedication and relaxed bonhomie. By Christy ParkerThe fundraiser will take place over the familiar course from Pobalscoil na Trionoide down Summerfield Cross, into town and back to the Strand. It will again facilitate a wide spectrum of participation with the young, the old, teams and individuals, the ludicrously healthy and the ‘might-finish-you-never know’s, the long striders, the short-stepped and the wheelchair users, the leisurely and the competitive, setting forth as one on Sunday May 24th.

Dublin solicitors, Matheson, Ormsby & Prentice, for whom Emer worked, will sponsor the event in conjunction with the Emer Casey Foundation. Perpetual trophies will be awarded to the first male and female athletes, while a prize fund of €2,500, including spot prizes, t-shirts and goody bags for all finishers will also ensue. Refreshments and showers will be available afterwards.

In a brief address, Mayor Olly Casey reflected that ‘the Lord takes and he gives back’ in deference to the astounding contribution the Emer Casey Fundation continues to make in the battle against ovarian cancer. He praised the generosity and hard work of the Casey family to whom he is “not related by blood but certainly related through friendship.” He looked forward to officiating, in one of his last roles as Mayor and councillor, at the May event.

Cork hurling icon Sean Og O’Hailpin, on behalf of his team mates and himself expressed pleasure at being present, “for several reasons.” He said he had not personally known Emer but that they well understood “the huge significance of the person she was and of her legacy.” Her high regard was particularly obvious, he said, when visiting the home of her brother-in-law and former Cork hurling coach Seanie McGrath, where pictures of Emer bedeck the walls.

Mr. O’Hailpin took a moment to thank Mr. McGrath for his unyielding support during the lengthy turmoil within Cork hurling and also in times previous. He jokingly thanked “the real boss”, Emer’s sister Susan, for allowing her husband to do so!

On a serious note, the hurler observed that there was essentially a moral duty on those blessed with good health that is often taken for granted, to assist those less fortunate as best they can. “And it could be any one of us who needs that help in years to come,” he speculated.

The Cork hurler reflected that Emer’s legacy and influence continued to spread, with associated road race/walks now occurring in Melbourne New York and London. At last year’s Melbourne event, he revealed to an amused audience, his “lazy” brother Setanta was mistaken for himself by a young girl and he duly accepted her admiration for “travelling all the ways from Cork” to start the event!

Thus has the Youghal road challenge initiated the Emer Casey Foundation’s extraordinary, exemplary endeavour to translate one’s own tragedy into triumph for others. The international dimension has assisted in raising over €280,000 to date in support of the Dublin-based DISCOVARY research consortium, which is engaged in early detection tests for ovarian cancer.

In expressing gratitude for the ongoing support for the foundation, Susan Casey delivered detail on its aims and success to date. The next Youghal News edition will consider her account of this progress and ambition.