Fundraiser for Mayo native to help him realise his Ironman dream

A GoFundMe campaign has been set up by Rachel Webb on behalf of Mayo native Pat Walsh.

At 33 years old, Pat is currently living in Southend, Essex, England, and has recently qualified for the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii.

His friends are now trying to raise some funds to help him out with the expenses so that he can participate in this once-in-a-lifetime event and represent his homeland – Ireland.

Ever since he was a young lad in Ballina, Pat has been massively into his fitness. He was an amateur boxer for Ballina Boxing Club, played Gaelic football for Ballina Stephenities and always stood out as a phenomenal athlete.

As the years went on Pat emigrated to England, where he has worked tremendously hard. His day starts around 5 a.m. and he finishes work around 6 p.m. to then goes on to train every evening in London, traveling back to Essex to sleep – and then do it all again the next day, seven days a week!

These hours of training involve cycling, running and swimming, and all this after a long day's work doing shuttering carpentry.

Rachel uses the GoFundMe page to write: “We hope that you will all get behind this amazing man as he represents his country, Ireland, and the people of Southend doing what he loves best, and help to take some of the pressure off of him whilst he pursues his dreams!”

To donate or find out more information, click here.