Ballyare 10k Road Race and 5k Fun Walk
This year sees the 20th staging of the Ballyare 10k Road Race and 5k Fun Walk. This event was created by local athlete and Finn Valley stalwart Pat Hegarty who wished to raise funds for the Adult Day Centre in Letterkenny.
Following a meeting in Carr’s of the Diamond a committee was formed and a road race and fun walk was organised.
The event proved to be a great success and became an annual event. Over the years the Committee also organised other side events around the 10k to boost the monies raised.
It has always been the aim of the Committee that all funds raised would stay within the County and go back into the community. Various charities and community projects have benefitted over the years. The committee has raised in excess of €120,000 to date.
The Road Race is part of the Donegal Grand Prix and the course of the race is one of the most challenging in the country. The race has had numerous different winners, with one even from the Netherlands, but none as yet have been able to beat the course record.
The record was set back in the early years of the event and is held by Pat Hegarty. A new ladies record was set two years ago by Teresa McGloin.
This year being the 20th staging of the event, the committee and the committee of the Ballyare Festival have united and the event will mark the beginning of a Fun Festival which will take place on the weekend of the 24th August to the 26th of August.
This year the beneficiaries of the event will be the Buddy Bear appeal and the Illistrin Sports Development Fund.
The Road Race and Fun Walk will be held on Friday the 24th August. The 5k walk will start at 7.00 p.m. and the 10k Race will start at 7.30 p.m. Registrations for the event will be from 7.00 p.m. to 9.00 p.m. on Thursday 23rd August in Carr’s of the diamond. However registration will also be held on the day with the walkers registering from 5.30 p.m. in Carr’s of the Diamond and the Runners at the Donegal League pitch in Ballyare from 5.30 p.m.
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