A former Galway champion runner and NUIG scholarship student will spearhead a major charity road race in Claregalway, along the circuit of the popular Galway 5k Series, next month.
Former all-Ireland champion Kathryn Casserly is collaborating with Castlegar Athletic’s Club to host the 5K Road Race, which is expecting to attract scores of competitors to Claregalway GAA Community Centre on Sunday September 16 next.
The event is being organised by Kathryn as a benefit for Self Help Africa, the Irish agency that supports rural African communities to grow more food, and is the chosen charity of the IFA.
Later this year Kathryn will join close to 30 Self Help Africa supporters at this year’s Great Ethiopian Run, in a fund-raising 10k run that is being organised by Galway’s notable charity campaigner Ronan Scully.
The upcoming Claregalway Road Race is AAI approved, and all proceeds that are raised from the €15 entrance fee will go to support the work of Self Help Africa.
Kathryn and her club mates at Castlegar Athletics Club have secured some great prizes, and there will be awards presented on the day to the top three finishing men and women, and to the first junior boy and junior girl over the finishing line.
Speaking about the upcoming road race, Kathryn, who is a secondary teacher at Presentation College, Athenry, said that the event and her upcoming Great Ethiopian Run was her chance to give something back to people who were less fortunate than she had been.
For many years one of Ireland’s leading long distance runners, Kathryn Casserly said that athletics had been incredibly good to her, and that she wanted to use it now to benefit others.
‘Because of running I was awarded an athletics scholarship, and spent an incredible four years at the world renowned Providence College, Rhode Island, in the United States’.
‘I got a chance to travel the world, to live in America, and to have some incredible experiences, for which I am extremely grateful.’
Although she no longer runs competitively, the former international gold medalist will lead out the field at the upcoming charity run, and has appealed for runners of all levels to join her on the day.
The Claregalway 5k Road Race will take place from Claregalway business park at 1.30pm on Sunday, 16th September. Registrations will be received at the Claregalway GAA Centre from 11.30am on the morning, and parking is being provided for athletes at the Claregalway Business Park Centre.
Those who are interested in donating sponsorship to Kathryn Casserly to take part in this year’s Great Ethiopian Run can do so by visiting her page at http://www.mycharity.ie/event/kathryn_casserlys_event/. Or for further information contact Kathryn Casserly on 087 6035169
