North West 10k charities 2022

The 2022 North West 10K Run and Walk charities are:

• Donegal Diabetes Parents Support Group
• No Barriers Foundation
• Spina Bifida

Click on the Entry Info link to register for the event.

The benefitting charities for the 2022 North West 10k Donegal will be the Diabetes Parents Support Group, No Barriers Foundation and Spina Bifida & Hydrocephalus Ireland Donegal Branch. Details of the 25th North West 10k were announced at the launch by Chairperson Neil Martin in the Mount Errigal Hotel on Monday night.

The charity event was officially launched by three winner Eoghain McGinley. Race Director Brendan McDaid confirmed that there were some minor changes to the route for the 10k which takes place on Sunday, May 3rd in Letterkenny.

Words of thanks and a brief outline of the work of the two charities were said at the launch by Sonia McGarvey of the No Barriers Foundation and Mairead Farren representing the Donegal Diabetes Parents Group.

Cllr John O’Donnell, Chairperson of the Letterkenny and Milford Municipal District Council spoke about the success of North West 10k over the past 23 years, raising 827,000 euros for 35 charities and spearheaded by a hard working committee.

Chairperson Neil Martin acknowledged the invaluable backing of the 10k’s five sponsors Donegal Daily, Brian McCormick Sports and Leisure, Century Cinema Complex, the Mount Errigal Hotel and the Value Centre. Those interested are advised to enter early by going on-line to www.northest10k.com

Three-time winner Eoghain McGinley will formally launch the 24th North West 10k on Monday night in the Mount Errigal Hotel. Reigning title holder McGinley also won the charity event in 2015 and 2017. The Kilmacrennan native is looking forward to Monday night’s launch when the 10k committee will name the charities who will benefit from this year’s run and walk which takes place on Sunday the 3rd of May in Letterkenny.

“The North West 10k is one of my favourite events. You have the competitive side which is important but there it also has the family fun and charity sides. There is a great buzz leading up to it and it has a special place in my heart” the Letterkenny AC runner said. 

North West 10k Chairperson Neil Martin says that having an athlete of Eoghain McGinley’s stature speaking so highly of the event is very satisfying for all involved. “Eoghain has won the North West 10k three times. He also has a second and third finish all in the space of seven years. We’re delighted to have him with us on Monday night to perform the official launch. The benefitting charities will be named and the it’s down then to the hard graft for them and hopefully with our help they will raise a decent amount of money” Mr Martin said.  

Last year, three charities benefitted handsomely from the grand total of 51,020 euros (17,000 euros each) which was raised. They were the Little Angels Association, Letterkenny; Donegal Cancer Flights & Services and Spina Bifida & Hydrocephalus Ireland, Donegal Branch.

Eoghain McGinley will be out to defend his title on Sunday, 3rd of May but injuries have been a problem in recent times. Last year,  he struggled in the second half of the North West 10k with a sore right achilles. Aged 35, McGinley is now eligible for a new age-group but his competitive running has been curtailed by a problem with the achilles in the left foot. “I seem to be getting more injuries. It’s the left achilles now but hopefully I can get the training going again. My aim would be to do the National 10k in the Phoenix Park in April. Then it would be to do the Northwest 10k at the start of May. My best time for a 10k was 31.24 in Belfast two years ago. The best time I have done at the North West 10k was 32.44 in 2017.” 

The following North West 10k committee was elected at the AGM. Chairperson Neil Martin; Vice-Chairperson Nancy McNamee; Joint Secretaries Rosemary Foy and Bernie Brennan; Treasurer Anne Condon; Assistant-Treasurer Brendan McDaid; PRO Declan Kerr; Race Director Brendan McDaid; Committee Paddy Bond, Neily McDaid, Gerard McGinley and Seamus Murphy.

Charities 2019:  

The North West 10k committee is delighted to announce that €51,020 was the overall figure raised from this year’s Charity Race & Walk which took place on the May Bank Holiday Weekend. The figure was revealed by 10k Chairperson Neil Martin at a cheque presentation function on Monday night  in the Mount Errigal Hotel. It means that the three charities, Little Angels Association, Donegal Cancer Flights and Services and Spina Bifida & Hydrocephalus Ireland each received €17,000. It was the 23rd North West  10k Run & Walk and the overall total raised since the event started in 1997 is now just over €827,000 which has benefitted over 30 charity organisations. The North West 10k would also like to thank the five sponsors of this year's event - DonegalDaily.com, Brian McCormick Intersports, Century Cinemas, the Mount Errigal Hotel and the Value Centre.

SpinaBifida & Hydrocephalus Ireland 2019 Charity

The Donegal Branch for Spina Bifida & Hydrocephalus was formed in 2010 due to local families finding a lack of support and information.  The purpose of the national association is to provide information, advice & support to people with Spina Bifida and or Hydrocephalus their parents and carers, as well as to promote social inclusion and equality for people with these conditions in our society. We are families and carers supporting one another through life’s journey. 

Donegal Cancer Flights and Services 2019 Charity

Flights to Dublin co-ordination of flights to Dublin for cancer patients, family members, carers/companions and also for children with severe or life limiting conditions and their families.

Counselling to cancer clients and their families.  

Information Evenings on cancer-related topics by healthcare professionals

Pamper Days where clients are treated to a range of free therapies and treatments in the relaxed atmosphere of the Centre.  

Care to Drive We work in conjunction with the Care to Drive service and also provide information on Travel to Care Allowance

Little Angels 2019 Charity

Little Angels Association was set up initially as a crèche for children with special needs as, up to that point, Donegal children had to go to elsewhere to avail of an education. This has now evolved into the Little Angels School that exists today with 90+ children and Fiona House, the current residence of the earliest graduates of the school. Little Angels School is the only Special School of 15 schools chosen as an Ashoka change-maker school. Fiona House is HIQA registered with highly qualified staff and a gold standard of accommodation.  The new goal is Fiona House 2 which aims to offer further permanent residence to graduates of Little Angels School and would also offer a respite service to families whose children may need temporary residence.