WELL known Letterkenny man Davy Cowan is walking the highways and byways of Donegal this week to raise money for the Oncology and Neo Natal wards at Letterkenny University Hospital.
Davy, who recently retired from his job in Optum Ireland, had initially planned to do a sponsored walk between Galway and Letterkenny in March.
Due to Covid-19 the walk was moved back to October. However, due to guidelines they had to re-assess the course and came up with a 253 kilometre route along the Wild Atlantic Way in Donegal.
Great support
Speaking to the Donegal News earlier this week, Davy said he had been heartened by the support he has received to date.
“I’m just outside Ardara, walking towards Portnoo. We came down Glengesh this morning. It’s a lovely day and I’ve been getting great support along the way.”
Davy has been joined by a small group of work colleagues to raise money for two causes which are close to his heart.
A talented sportsman in his youth, Davy played senior hockey with Raphoe and football with Letterkenny Rovers after a spell in the League of Ireland with Athlone Town.
Creeslough
The walk got underway from Letterkenny on Friday last and finishes in Creeslough this Sunday afternoon.
“We’ll be going from Falcarragh into Creeslough, where the twins live, at some stage on Sunday,” he said,
Work colleagues Susan Flinter, Jimmy McCarthy, Moira Doherty, Pauline Coll and David Carroll have been helping out behind the scenes as has Mark McFadden, Estates Manager, Optum.
“Unfortunately, almost everyone knows a family member who has been affected by cancer and needs the help and support of the staff from the Oncology ward while Mark’s twin boys received great help and support from the Neo Natal ward in Letterkenny,” he said.
Twin sons
Mark McFadden explained that identical twin sons, Caiden and Cian, spent the first few months of their young lives in hospital.
“Due to complications, my wife Tresa gave birth ten weeks early and the boys spent five weeks in the Neo Natal Intensive Care Unit at Hollis Street Children’s Hospital before being transferred to Letterkenny where they spent a further three weeks.
“It’s only then that you really realise the important work that the nurses and staff do at Letterkenny and I’m delighted that Davy has decided to include Letterkenny’s Neo Natal ward in his plans,” he said.
Davy’s wife Joan, son Keith, a PE teacher at Colaiste Ailigh, and daughter Cathy, who works in PR and Marketing, are joining in along the way.
Former work colleagues at Unifi Textured Yarns – where Davy spent more than 25 years – have also joined in the fund-raising effort.
See the Go Fund Me page davyswalk.com
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