The Donegal Half Marathon Committee presented two charity organisations with a total of €2,000 from the proceeds from last year’s event.
We Care Foodbank Letterkenny and The Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust were each presented with a cheque for €1,000 at a hand-over ceremony at Kernan’s Bistro in Letterkenny.
(Pictured above are Fintan McGrath and Jim Kelly from We Care Food Bank Letterkenny accepting a cheque from Donegal Half Marathon Committee members Mary Larkin, Danny McDaid, Cathal Curran, Eunan Kelly, Brendan McDaid and Paddy Hannigan.)
Speaking on behalf of the Donegal Half Marathon Committee, Paddy Hannigan said: “The Donegal Half Marathon is able to make donations to charities that actually go out of the way to help other people, and we are delighted to be in a position to present cheques to two charity groups who do such wonderful work.”
“We Care Letterkenny Foodbank and the Kevin Bell Repatriation Fund both provide vital help and assistance to families in times of real need. When people are desperate, they reach out to others and it’s fantastic to see ordinary people doing extraordinary things. Keep up the good work,” he added.
Thanking the committee for their donation, Fintan McGrath, We Care Foodbank Letterkenny PRO, said the organisation has been operating since 2014.
“Ten years ago, we were delivering ten to 15 parcels per week. These days we are handing out over 100 and last year we handed out over 4,500. We rely on the help and support of the local community,” Mr McGrath commented.
“Without the great support we get, we just couldn’t do what we do. Thanks to the support from organisations like the Donegal Half Marathon, we can continue to operate. Hopefully, we are doing some good for the community. Thank you very much for a very generous donation,” he added.
Colin Bell accepting a cheque from Donegal Half Marathon Ambassador, Danny McDaid, on behalf of The Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust. Also included are Donegal Half Marathon Committee members Cathal Curran, Brendan McDaid, Mary Larkin, Eunan Kelly and Paddy Hannigan.
The Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust, which provides financial assistance and guidance to families seeking to repatriate the remains of loved ones back to the Island of Ireland, was established following the death of Newry man, Kevin Bell, who was killed in a hit-and-run incident in New York in June 2013.
Accepting the cheque on behalf of the trust, Kevin’s father, Colin, said that within a week of his son’s death, €150,000 had been raised.
However, after Kevin’s American employers agreed to pay to transport his body home, the Bell family decided to use the money to help other families who faced the same situation.
In 2015, the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust became a registered charity in the north and south of Ireland.
“Since Kevin’s death, 2,150 Irish people who have died abroad have been repatriated through the Trust. We don’t get money from the governments north or south. But the truth is we don’t need it because people are so good,” Mr Bell commented.
“We are Ireland’s charity in Kevin’s name and the support we get from the community is just amazing. I extend a big thank you to the Donegal Half Marathon Committee for your donation and I’m delighted to be in the presence of your race ambassador, Danny McDaid. I really appreciate your generosity,” he added.
Since 2020, the Donegal Half Marathon Committee has presented a total of €16,000 to seven charity organisations.
