Tomás Guiry (centre) with friends Kieran Langan (left) and Paul McDonnell (right) after they completed the Malahide Castle 5k.

Foxford local's fifty-two 5k runs for IMNDA

FOXFORD native Tomás Guiry is running fiffty-two 5km runs this year to raise some much needed funds for the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association (IMNDA).

Tomás, who is son of Pat and Martha Guiry, Foxford, and now resides in Dublin where he works as a senior enterprise account manager at Realex Payments, a division of Global Payments, is a former Straide & Foxford United star and Moy Davitts Gaelic football player. While his exploits with the big ball might now be limited, his general fitness is the complete opposite - as can be judged by the massive number of 5k runs he is undertaking.

 

Why is he doing it?

A number of years ago Tomás’s aunt Breda was diagnosed with Motor Neurone disease. Motor Neurone is a progressive neurological condition that attacks the motor neurones, or nerves, in the brain and spinal cord. This means messages gradually stop reaching the muscles, which leads to weakness and wasting, resulting in the setting down of muscles.

The team over at IMNDA were extremely helpful to the Guiry family during Breda’s illness. Martha, Breda’s sister, has always said the support they got gave Breda that extra few months to say goodbye to her loved ones. Tomás now wants to repay the favour and is trying to raise as much money as possible to ensure IMNDA can continue to do the great work they do.

 

What is he doing?

 

He is running 52 5km runs - that is one 5k for every week of the year. He has run them in rain, hail and even snow. Nothing is going to stop him from reaching his goal. It doesn’t matter where he is, he will make sure he completes his weekly 5k.

Tomás was in New York earlier this year and while some may have been getting an extra lie-in on a Sunday morning, Tomás and his fiancee, Belcarra native Aoife Joyce, ran the 5k around breathtaking Central Park in the snow with temperatures as low as -4 degrees.

He recently took part in the Malahide Castle 5k run where he was joined by two of his great friends, Paul McDonnell, Foxford, and Richie Langan, Knockmore.

Tomás really appreciates the support he has gained throughout the year, with many friends, family and colleagues supporting him with his runs. As it stands, it looks like he will have someone run alongside him each week for the full 52 weeks. So far he has had a new person every week complete the run with him. Not only is this a great way to catch up with friends and family, it is also creating well deserved awareness for IMNDA.

He plans to run the last of these 52 runs in the last week in December. Indeed, this last run by Tomás will take take place just before he and Aoife (Joyce) tie the knot on Friday, December 29.

Keep up to date on his progress at www.TomasGuiry.com. If you are interested in supporting this worthy charity, and this magnificent undertaking by such a brilliant athlete, follow the donation link on Tomas’s website.