By Jonathan Magee
TWO Letterkenny men made history today as they completed their 50km charity run for autism in Donegal.
Mark Rodgers, who turned 50 last week, and his son Jamie 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.
They made it back to Letterkenny Community Centre in the early afternoon and did not look like men that had just completed the arduous run.
The idea started 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.
On the open road for 50K at 50. Photo Brian McDaid.
“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,” Mark said.
All expectations were exceeded when the €50k target was smashed earlier this week. The funds raised to date are €64k and growing.
The funds raised will be distributed among iCare Donegal, Bluestack Foundation, Letterkenny Autism Support, St Bernadette’s, Little Angels and Ballyraine NS.