Four Galway-born first cousins are climbing Ireland's highest mountain, Carrauntoohil, in aid of the Alan Kerins Project. Alan's sister Miriam Kerins, along with cousins Aoife Lynskey-Keane, Brenda Kerins, and Martina Kerins will take part in the Caps to the Summit challenge this September. The four are hoping to raise €10,000 for the worthy cause which supports community and youth leadership development projects in Zambia.
The four women have begun intensive training for the gruelling 3,406 feet climb. Aoife Lynskey-Keane and Brenda Kerins will be particularly familiar to camogie fans as both are stalwarts of the Galway camogie scene. Martina Kerins says she is really looking forward to the challenge. "I like that the four of us are doing it together, it means we can support each other through the training and on the day itself.''
Caps to the Summit is a two-day charity event which is the brainchild of Alan Kerins. Last year a Sam for the Summit event, which saw a number of well known GAA stars carry the Sam Maguire up the mountain, was such a resounding success, it was decided to repeat the event, but this time focus on involving rugby stars. A number of well known Irish rugby players have lent their support to the event, and Eric Elwood, Mick Galwey, Peter Clohessy, and former out-half rivals Tony Ward and Ollie Campbell are just some of the big names who will join the star-studded line-up of climbers supporting the hike in the picturesque surroundings of Keel, Co Kerry.
This year the climb up Carrantuohill takes place on Friday September 11, and an official dinner and Rugby World Cup preview night, hosted by Newstalk 106-108FM, takes place on Saturday September 12. Individuals and companies can sign up to be part of this once-in-a-lifetime experience and join with the stars, by raising €2,500 through sponsorship or self-funding. All funds raised will go to the Alan Kerins Projects and Gorta-Self Help Africa.
Since 2005, more than €1.5 million has been raised on behalf of the Alan Kerins African Projects, the money invested into a variety of essential projects and services.
Members of the public can support the four cousins by making a donation at http://www.mycharity.ie/event/four_cousins_event/
