An east Galway hurling club and camogie club have raised more than €5,000 to help fund the purchase of PPE, food, and medical supplies for frontline health and care workers.
Meelick-Eyrecourt GAA and Eyrecourt Camogie participated in a 24 hour 'runathon' in the local parish last weekend with some 68 runners from the clubs participating.
Chairperson of Meelick-Eyrecourt Dermot Dunne said the response from the local community was "astounding".
Mr Dunne said; "The generosity from the local parish and beyond has been absolutely astounding. We set at a target of the Go Fund Page of €500 but we had hoped to maybe raise €1,000 to €1,500. However by Saturday morning when we had begun the 'runathon' we had some €2,600 donated and by the conclusion of the run, there was €5,200 given.
"To receive that amount of donations in a 24 hour period is great and a testament to the local community here. It was just amazing to see the support and involvement from the local community. We had people who set up tables to hand out water to the runners.
""Our players ran their legs in slots so we could maintain social distancing; camogie players during the day and the hurlers at night. We even had people participating in the run over the world in places like New Zealand and Canada and they would run at the same time as their relatives who were running here.
"We are a small, rural club where there is probably close on 99 per cent involvement from the local community and to be able to put on events like these in a time where we have had to suspend so many other activities is important to community spirit."
Chairperson of Eyrecourt Camogie club, Molly Dunne, praised the efforts of those involved in setting up the fundraising event as well as those who donated.
Ms Dunne said; "It has been a huge success; way bigger than any one of us anticipated; we are over the moon. The hurling and camogie clubs are central to the community and having to suspend activities currently [because of Covid-19 restrictions] the clubs felt the importance of having to engage with community.
"A lot of the girls who play for the camogie club would be nurses, care assistants, and frontline workers, so we wanted to help them as well as showing we appreciate their efforts.
"I don't think there is anyone left in the parish who hasn't donated so we thank all who participated and donated."
To donate visit Go Fund Me page https://www.gofundme.com/f/meelick-eyrecourt-ampeyrecourt-camogie-24hr-runathon .
