Challenge The Greenway for CF building fund

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Johnny Oosten

 BACK in 2007 Johnny Oosten came up with an idea. This centred primarily on creating awareness and raising vitalfunds for children with autism in Ireland by means of the Croagh Patrick Seven Days in a Row challenge.

Five years on he has certainly achieved that, having raised €534,000 for the cause (www.croaghpatrickchallenge.com).

March 18 (bank holiday) will be the date for his next venture - a completely new challenge  and a new cause.

This new event is a fundraiserto help the Cystic Fibrosis West team raise the much-needed funds required to build a very specialised day care unit at Mayo General Hospital, Castlebar.

This unit will comprise of two isolated en-suite bedrooms (each incorporating positive and negative   airflow pressure systems), a treatment room, meeting room, kitchenette,laboratory and a corridorfor exercise and bleep tests.

Cystic Fibrosis is Ireland's most common life threatening inherited disease, which primarily affects the lungs and digestive systems.

However, even with the dedication of CF team, there is a shorter life expectancy for patients in the west of Ireland than in other parts of the UK, Europe and North America.

This is due in part to the lack of physical infrastructure once hospitalisation is required.

This needs to change, and with the help of the public this can really make an impact.

The target for the build is €1 million. So far they have managed to raise €600,000.

They need help to get them to the finish line for the Mayo Cystic Fibrosis Building Fund.

The first annual event will take place on March 18 and the challenge will be to complete the Great Western Greenway - a picturesque off-road walk/ cycle trail that traverses Ireland’s Atlantic coast and follows the old Achill/Westport railway-line.

Participants will set off from Achill Sound, pass through Mulranny and Newport and finally finish up in Westport.

Johnny said: “In August of last year, 32 of us set out to see if it was possible to complete this task in one day and I am delighted to say all 32 completed the challenge.

“The distance of the route is approximately 26 miles/43km (a full marathon).

“However, you can decidehow you’d like to complete it.

“You can choose to walk,cycle or even both. It’s entirely up to you.”

Further details regarding the challenge as well as other relevant information can be found on www.challengethegreenway.com.

For further information contact Johnny Oosten on (087) 9828 015 or (094) 9023343.

You can register on line from tomorrow (Wednesday).