Last Friday (13th August 2010) night at Farrells Summerfield Bar a cheque in the sum of  € 12,650.00 was presented to Amanda Stavrou,Norma Kenneally,& Mary O’Dowd,staff members of Marymount Hospice,in front of a large crowd.
Photo : Michael Hussey www.youghalonline.com Email: news@youghalonline.com

Martin Drake, whose wife Caroline sadly passed away on 29th July  2009 in Marymount Hospice, together with his family decided to hold a road race/walk on 18th July in memory of Caroline and to raise much needed funds for Marymount Hospice.

A small organising committee was formed  consisting of  Martin Drake, Tim Twomey,Ger Flanagan,& Willie Dalton and all worked very hard up to race day to ensure the road race/walk was a huge success.Ger Flanagan of Flanagan Print was very helpful in promoting the race/walk as he very generously printed over a thousand race leaflets which Martin and Tim brought to all the road races leading up to our race .He also printed several large posters and over 200 sponsorship cards.

At the presentation last Friday night Twomey welcomed the Mayor Youghal, Mary Lenihan Foley and the large crowd in attendance and thanked them all for coming. He thanked the main sponsors for their very generous support, in particular Mike Farrell (Summerfield Bar) for the use of his premises on race day  and various other meetings, Jack O’Patsy Pottery, Flanagan Print, Kelkab Ltd.,The Quays Bar,Lidl, & Supermacs. He also thanked all the local shopkeepers and offices who were very generous in giving out spot prizes.

He went on to thank all the people who came out to help on the day in particular Sergeant Mark Ward and all his colleagues at the Garda Station for giving us a traffic free route,Pat McCarthy and his paramedic team, Willie O’ Mahony for his PA system, Tommy Roche, The Coast Guard Crew, the Wild Geese Motor Cycle Club for their help at stewarding the race, and The Ballycotton Running Promotions team for their help on the day.

Although it rained most of the day the Race /Walk was a huge success with 245 runners/walkers taking part. We raised € 2,500.00 approx from this event  with the balance € 10,150.00 coming from Sponsorship Cards.Twomey went on to thank all the people from East Cork, West Waterford that contributed so generously to this great cause.

He then called on Amanda Stavrou (Marymount Hospice)to say a few words.Amanda said she was delighted to accept such a large cheque on behalf of  Marymount Hospice and that the money would be well spent as they were hoping to move into their new Hospital/Hospice at Curraheen next year. The cost of the new facility is € 60M.She thanked everyone that contributed and particularly Martin and his hard working team. Twomey thanked Amanda and called on the Lord Mayor to say a few words.

The Mayor of Youghal, Mary Lenihan Foley said she was delighted to have been invited to say a few words. She said she was amazed to have seen such a great turnout on  race/walk day. The rain did not deter 245 competitors on July 18th,and she complimented the race organisers for doing such a great job and hoped it would be an annual event.

She then said the staff at Marymount Hospice had a very special vocation and said not everyone could do their work.  She said she was delighted that the race organisors had raised such a huge sum for Marymount Hospice and complimented everyone in Youghal and the surrounding areas for their very generous contributions in these recessionary times.She wished the three Staff members and all at Marymount the best of look when they move into their new Hospital/Hospice next year.

Twomey thanked the Mayor for her kind words and hoped everyone would enjoy the rest of the night.

WHEN does an athletics race/walk become a very personal part of your life?

Martin Drake a very well known Youghal athlete who to this day is a huge character within the sport and still an enthusiastic competitor only knows too well as he sadly lost his wife Caroline nearly a year ago and as a tribute to her and an opportunity to help Marymount Hospice in some way he is organising what could be one of the biggest East Cork road races outside of the Ballycotton ‘10’ in association with Youghal Athletic Club.
By Derek Kiely | Photo: Michael Hussey www.youghalonline.com | Email: news@youghalonline.com

Last week the official launch of this great project took place in Farrell Summerfield Bar and it was apparent that the huge numbers that attended this launch were thrilled to be part of this personal and very worthy event.

Noel Berkley and James McCarthy are just two of many elite and International athletes that will take to the roads in Youghal to help raise funds for this most worthy cause as well as show Martin their supports.

Martin and his co-organiser Tim Twomey got together months ago to see what they could do and since that meeting the names just keep rolling in.

Twomey told YoughalOnline.com Sport “The purpose of this whole event is twofold, one to honour the memory of Caroline and two to raise some funds for Marymount. We now have over a 100 sponsorship cards out there and our very printer sponsor ‘Flanagan Print’ is printing another couple of hundred such is the demand and that is great”.

The race has many sponsors already including Farrell’s Bar and Jack O’ Patsy Pottery and the race will start on Sunday July the 18th at 2pm at Summerfield Cross make its way through Youghal turn at the North end of the town continue back up the quayside and finish by the Front Strand at the old train station covering a distance of four miles.

The race is being measured and organised by ‘Ballycotton Running Promotions’ and has an AAI Permit for both runners and walkers of all levels alike.

Kathy O’Donovan representing Marymount Hospice said “We are building a new hospital and we have the frame of it up, but we still have a way to go and events like these are so important to us. The new hospital would give patients individual rooms and give each person the privacy they deserve, so again we say thank you to everyone involved in this event”.

Youghal Town Council Lady Mayor Sandra Mc Clellan said “When Martin first organised this charity event in aid of Marymount Hospice it started out as a local fundraiser, but it gradually started to gain momentum and has turned into a huge event”.

People from all walks of life are attending and contributing is some shape or form for this race and the fun and entertainment that will follow with the many prizes presented on the day, but the man behind it all was for once really caught for words on the night.

Martin Drake told YoughalOnline Sport “It was emotional, but it was lovely. All of Caroline’s family are here tonight and they are as thrilled as I am about how highly thought of she was. I am delighted and touched by the support I have received and I hope everyone enjoys the day”.