We would like to congratulate Kieran Dodrill, Vinny Kenny and their team of Road Runners who raised €21,115 for two well deserving causes, LARCC Centre Multyfarnham and St James’ hospital, Dublin. This amount was raised by sourcing sponsorship and donations from local business, organising a very successful tractor run in the grounds Clonkill Hurling & Camogie Club with their fundraising endeavour culminating in competing and completing the New York City Marathon in November 2023. This was a wonderful accomplishment that was all in aid of very good causes.
Following the passing of Kieran Dodrill’s wife Maura Dodrill from Leukaemia in 2019, Kieran felt the need to thank both LARCC Centre Mulyfarnham and St James’ Hospital Dublin for all help, support, compassion and kindness that both organisations offered throughout Maura’s treatment and palliative care. Therefore, he and his fellow Road Runners Vinny Kenny, Denis Reynolds, Paul Reynolds, Martin Downes, Shane Nohilly and Martin Fitzpatrick embarked on a fundraising drive to raise the much need funds for both organisations and to help other families going through similar misfortunes.
The Road Runners is a group of amateur sportsmen with a passion for road running that compete in running events and marathons around the country and across the globe. With this in mind, they set out with a goal to raise €10,000 for both organisations by competing in the NYC Marathon. Fundraising began in earnest with the team approaching businesses and individuals for sponsorship and donations along with help from family and friends and also Sonna National school where Clodagh Dodrill (Kieran & Maura’s daugher) attended. One of the events the group organised was a tractor run held in the grounds of Clonkill Hurling & Camogie Club. This run took a route around local roads from the clubhouse towards Rathconnell back by Cloughan and on to Turin before turning towards Balreagh on to Farnalore before returning back to the clubhouse. On their return, all the participants were treated to a hot lunch and refreshments, and a raffle took place with over 50 prizes donated to the event. This was an exceptionally well attended event with record numbers of tractors taking part from both local participants and those who travelled from far and wide.
Clonkill Hurling & Camogie Club were more than happy to oblige when one of our own clubmen, Vinny Kenny, sought our help to use our facilities to accommodate this event and we were only glad to be able to play a small part in this fundraising drive and specially for the causes that this group represented. On behalf of the Road Runners and Clonkill Hurling & Camogie Club we would like to thank all our members and volunteers who so generously offered their time to help out on the day with marshalling, traffic management, registration, ticket selling and setting up of the venue. We would also like to thank David Smyth Catering for providing the food for the event.
The Road Runners group must be commended with the total amount they managed to raise for both causes. They originally set out with the aim to raise €10,000, which in itself was a formidable challenge, however they subsequently raised a grand sum of €21,115 which was a monumental achievement for this group of friends. They recentely presented a cheque to the value of €10,000 to St James’ Hospital and a subsequent cheque for the amount of €11,115 to LARCC Centre Multyfarnham.
From all of us in Clonkill Hurling & Camogie Club we would like to congratulate the Road Runners for their wonderful achievement and for all their efforts that will bring so much comfort and support to others who are less fortunate and who are going through similar difficult times that the Dodrill family have endured. It is such a wonderful way to honour Maura’s memory. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam.
The Road Runners with their 2023 NYC Marathon medals and competitor numbers
(From L-R) Vincent Kenny, Kieran Dodrill, Shane Nohilly, Paul Reynolds, Martin Downes, Denis Reynolds & Martin Fitzpatrick
Presentation of the cheque to St James Hospital Dublin
Presentation of cheque to LARCC Centre Multyfarnham
Extract form from Kieran Dodrill’s Facebook post in recognition of all the help and support they received
“At some point in our lives all of us have been affected by cancer. In 2019 my wife Maura passed away from leukaemia. After seeing what St James Hospital and the LARCC Center Multyfarnham did for Maura at the time I decided to raise money for both charities. So, eight of us called the road runners who run, got together decided to run the NYC marathon which we all did this year [2023], and all crossed over the finish line. We also had other fundraising events like a tractor run, our goal was to reach €10,000 but with the help of family friends Clodagh school and all of you who donated we have reached a total €21,115 which we the road runners are blown away by the generosity of everyone.
I want to thank everyone from the bottom of my heart for all the generosity it really means a lot to me and especially the two charities who will put the monies to good use. Here are a few pictures of us handing over the money
Again, thank you to everyone involved”
Kieran Dodrill
Clonkill Hurling & Camogie Clubs Contribution
Tractor run from Clonkill Hurling & Camogie Club grounds
