More than thirty Finner Camp soldiers from the 28th Infantry Battalion are set to take on the 28th running of the North West 10k.
The army personnel will stick together for every step of the 10k in military uniform, helping to raise money for good causes in the run, which takes place on Bank Holiday Monday, May 5th.
The idea took legs after one young member William Brogan spoke about the big community event that the North West 10k has been over the past 28 years – coincidentally it is the 28th Infantry Battalion that is going to support the charity event this year.
North West 10k Chairperson Neil Martin is welcoming the entry of the local Defence Forces personnel.
“Historically the army has had a massive association with the North West 10k going back to the 1980s when the Rockhill Barracks was the base for the charity run. It was the army that started the Rockhill 10k back then and we succeeded them as the North West in 1997. They raised a lot of money for charity in those years and it is only right that we acknowledge their huge contribution to this community event.”
“Different generations of families have joined the local Defence Forces and have taken part or helped out with the North West 10k. I would like to thank 28th Company Sergeant Ciaran Friel and Lieutenant Colonel James O’Shea for lending their support as we attempt to pass one million euros in money raised for over charities in 28 years,” Mr Martin said.
28th Infantry Battalion Sergeant Ciaran Friel is organising the army personnel that are taking part in the North West 10k on Monday, 5th of May in Letterkenny.
His father Eamonn was also in the army and back in the day would have been involved with the Rockhill 10k.
“A lot of us know about the sterling work that the North West 10k is doing for the community and the charities that benefit,” Sargeant Friel said.
“We are based in Finner but a lot of our personnel travel through The Gap from all parts of the County. We want to do community events and support charities. Our members will be in army uniform and will take part as a unit on the day from the start to the finish. It will be Scout Pacing which is alternating between running and walking. They will be together all the way and it’s part of the bond building that we want to see.”
“The army has long links with the 10k going back to the Rockhill Barracks when it all started. Now we are the 28th Infantry Battalion getting ready to take part in the 28th North West 10k. This is something that we would hope to do on an annual basis with the North West 10k,” he said.
The two benefitting charities this year are Multiple Sclerosis Donegal Branch and Donegal Horizons CLG.
Online entries remain open for the Bank Holiday May 5th event by going to www.northwest10k.com or clicking on this link: https://in.njuko.com/north-west-10k-20251732297749168
