By Jonathan Magee
A LETTERKENNY father and son will take to the roads on Sunday in a 50km charity run aimed at raising €50,000 for autism support groups across Donegal – and the event has already taken on a life of its own.
Mark Rodgers, who turned 50 last week, and his son Jamie will set off from Letterkenny Community Centre at 9am, looping past McDonald’s and ATU before heading out on the open road to Callaghan’s of Burt, where a refreshments and water station will be in place.
They aim to be back in Letterkenny by 2pm, where Keith Fletcher will await them at the Community Centre.
The challenge was sparked when Jamie gave his father a place in the Westport Marathon as a Christmas present. Mark laced up for his first 10km run on St Stephen’s Day and has not stopped since, completing the Westport Marathon with Jamie just three weeks ago.
The training was tough. On one occasion Mark ran 32km in bitterly wet conditions, his feet blue with the cold. His soaking clothes weighed 2.5kg after the run, but he says every mile was worth it.
“My daughter has autism, and we have three nephews with it as well, so I always wanted to do something for autism in Donegal.
“Looking back on it now, it has all been worth it. My son Jamie has been absolutely brilliant and without my wife Yvonne we couldn’t have done it.”
The event has captured imaginations far beyond Donegal. An American businessman visiting Letterkenny contacted Mark to say he would be doing the walk in support of his brother with autism back in the United States.
Cars will be available to pick up and drop off participants at any point along the route. Mark thanked Terence Diver for making that possible, Aidan Spence for his promotion of the event, and Darren Browne for signage.
Funds raised will be distributed among iCare Donegal, Bluestack Foundation, Letterkenny Autism Support, St Bernadette’s, Little Angels and Ballyraine NS.
The fundraiser is supported by a growing list, including – 1 Stop Motor Shop, Ashley Martin Shopfitters, Benedicts Hotel Belfast, Bonnar Engineering, Boyle Construction, Browne Printers, C&M Embroidery, Damien Daly, Daytona Heavy Haulage, Divers Hyundai, Kernan Group, Letterkenny Athletic Club, Letterkenny Concrete, Letterkenny Glass, Milford Athletic Club, Mill Park Hotel, Signal Signs, Spence Digital and Voodoo Venue.