Tipperary man with disability completed 10km walk to raise funds for kids sports club

A Carrick-on-Suir man living with cerebral palsy pushed through the pain barrier last week to complete his second 10km walk in the space of three months and raise €5,500 for a local sports club for children with special needs.

Niall Walsh, aged 37, from Ballyrichard Court in Carrick-on-Suir completed the Youghal Bay 10km event in aid of Carrick-on-Suir’s Réalta Sports Club for Children with Special Needs on Sunday, August 10.

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The Bank of Ireland worker walked the route in the company of his sister Sarah O’Donnell and friends Ian O’Dwyer and Dean Clery and received a rousing cheer from supporters including his parents Susan and Seamus at the finish line.

“It was an amazing experience,” said Niall who paid tribute to all who supported him in successfully completing the challenge

“We went at a good pace at the start. The lads (Sarah, Ian and Dean) were very good at supporting and motivating me. The last 2km were very hard but we got a good reception coming in to the finish. They were all calling my name so that kind of kept me going in the last kilometre,” he recalled.

Niall found the Youghal Bay 10km route more challenging than that of the Great Limerick Run, the first 10km event he walked in early May.

“I thought it would be easier but it was a lot harder; it was very hilly. I will definitely do more 10km events but for now I need to give my body time to recover.”

He thanked Réalta Sports Club’s volunteers and members for all their support with the fundraising side of the challenge. “I only had to turn up and do the run,” he said.

Niall is delighted with the public response to the online idonate and sponsorship card fundraising campaign. He reported that €5,500 has so far been raised with just a small number of sponsorship cards still to be returned and tallied.

Breda Tobin of Réalta Sports Club for Children with Special Needs thanked Niall for walking the Youghal Bay 10km to raise funds for the club and thanked all who donated to the fundraising effort.

“We are blown away by the support Niall has received for our members,” she said

She said all the proceeds from Niall’s walk will be invested by the three-year-old club in new play equipment, paying the club’s running costs and for social events and outings for its members.

Réalta Sports Club's weekly sports sessions for members will resume after the summer holiday break at the end of September.

The Club’s sports take place at the Swan GAA Club Juvenile Hall on Wednesdays from 5pm to 6.15pm with dance sessions in Carrickbeg Community Centre on Fridays at 6.30pm.

Check out Réalta Special Needs Sports Club Facebook page for more information.

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