World Heart Day comes to Athlone on Sunday September 26, and Athlone Regional Sports Centre are calling on you and your friends to get involved.
The Sports Centre have teamed up with the Irish Heart Foundation, Athlone Drugs Awareness, Precor Fitness, and the Athlone Advertiser to orgainse a 5k Fun Run and Walk. Participants can walk or run the event, and there will be loads of fun and activities for all ages on the day.
David Warby, duty manager at the centre, explains “World Heart Day aims to inform people around the globe that heart disease - mainly heart attack and stroke - are the world’s leading cause of death. This is also true in Ireland where 10,000 people die each year from this killer. Our race is themed ‘The run that is fun for everyone’, and we mean exactly that as we have activities for all ages planned on the day.”
The centre hopes to raise money for both the Irish Heart Foundation and Athlone Drugs Awareness, which as the name explains, campaigns to make young people in Athlone aware of the dangers of drugs.
Treasurer of Athlone Drug Awareness, Cllr Jim Henson, says: “I had a triple bypass this time last year, so I am grateful to the Irish Heart Foundation after that near miss. I am also on the board of management of the Regional Sports Centre, so this event brings all three groups together,” said Cllr Henson.
“Everyone will benefit from these organisations working together. It will be a fun day out, and will raise money for the Heart Foundation and drugs awareness, with money going to local youth projects.”
The centre is calling on as many people as possible to get involved. David continues: “We are calling on all people to support the event. Five kilometres is just over three miles and I think most are capable of walking that distance if they put their mind to it. We are also hoping many will run the race on the day. We are allowing children from 10 years old upwards to participate as long as they are accompanied by an adult. We also have activities planned for the little ones on the day so we can keep them entertained while you walk or run the race.”
Entry forms and sponsorship forms are available from reception in the Sports Centre and for more details contact them on (090 ) 6470975. The first 200 entries get a free t-shirt and the centre will be providing plenty of entertainment on the day.
