By Rose Barrett
Bawnogue runner Marc Conlon has scooped yet another Last Person Standing win – his third in a row!
The Clondalkin man has utilised his love of running by earning sizable funding for charities over the years, and his latest coup is dedicated to Saoirse in Tallaght, which provides short term accommodation for women and children suffering domestic abuse.
“Saoirse not only provides short term crisis accommodation for up to six families,” said Marc. “But it also runs a 24-hour helpline for those who need it. Since Saoirse opened in 2006, it has supported over 800 families in refuge and 4000 support calls as well as outreach support.
“Their aim is to provide a safe, comfortable and confidential space for woman and children experiencing domestic violence, families that seek support and need to know their options. Saoirse’s focus is on empowering the woman and work from the ethos that they know best for themselves and their children, and the service is open to referrals from all over the country as well, not just Dublin, as well as all sectors of society.”
The Gazette has featured Marc many times previously for his remarkable running success, and contribution to many charities. He has most recently fundraised for little Freya Doyle whose family needed to adapt the family home to her needs, along with also raising monies for the Ronald McDonald House in Crumlin, which caters for families who have children with serious illness.
In the past 13 years, Marc has raised awareness and funding for the Simon Community; the Inner City Helping Homeless; the Peter McVerry Trust; for Pieta House, the Irish Cancer Society and St Vincent de Paul.
Marc’s most recent marathon entailed a weekend of running with 32k run on Friday; 64k on Saturday and 128k on Sunday, a total of 13 hours and 14 mins. This was his third consecutive win in the Last Person Standing marathon events, organised by Gary Reinhardt and Frank mc Dermott.
If you’d like to donate to Marc’s fundraiser for Saoirse, go to https://www.facebook.com/donate/356838235801344/4045025368884633/
Saoirse provide a 24-hour support helpline offering a listening non-judgemental ear at 01 463 0000.
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