A charity run organised by a Letterkenny man living in Melbourne has raised over $800,000 for an organisation focused on preventing and treating blindness.
Mike Toner jogged 100 kilometres as part of the ‘Quick as Thieves’ ultra marathon, an effort that kept him moving for the best part of ten hours.
The former St Eunan’s College student has lived in Australia for the past 20 years and has built up the successful touring and events agency Thick as Thieves.
Over the past seven years he has been involved in raising funds for The Fred Hollows Foundation, a non-profit organisation which works to treat and prevent blindness.
Ballyraine man Mike Toner with DJ Carl Cox and a cheque for $802,755 which will enable The Fred Hollows Foundation to restore the sight of 32,000 individuals.
Fred Hollows operates across the developing world, providing cataract treatment for just $25 per person.
Quick as Thieves has continued to grow since being launched three years ago and this year 300 people togged out to run along Melbourne’s beachside suburbs of Port Philip and Bayside. Some ran 10km, some a half marathon and others the 42.2km of a full marathon.
Mike and a handful of other hardy souls kept going, all the way to the 100km finishing post.
To prepare for the feat of endurance and to outfox the searing Australian sun, the Ballyraine man had to get up and be at the starting line for 2am.
On Friday he was able to hand over a cheque for $802,755 (€512,000) to legendary DJ Carl Cox who has undergone cataract surgery – enough money to restore the eyesight of 32,000 people.
On why he chose Fred Hollows, Mike told the Donegal News, “I was a student at the Regional in Letterkenny, I did two years there when I left St Eunan’s.
“I was heading to class one day when I saw this guy with albinism walk into a staircase. He cut his head open and there were a few fellas standing around who laughed at him. He dropped his books and I went over to help him when he told me that sort of thing happened all the time.
“It broke me and I made the decision that if I was ever in a position to help those with impaired vision that I would.”
Initially Mike started supporting a guide dog charity, but on learning that it cost $40,000 for a single dog he turned his attention to the Fred Hollows Foundation. Since being established in 1992 by the New Zealand-born eye surgeon, Fred Hollows has restored sight to more than 2.5 million people worldwide.
“I’m incredibly proud of the effort that the community here has put in over the last five months,” added Mike.
“Friday was the culmination of long winter months of training and fundraising and through an amazing team effort we raised $802,755. The impact that will have in changing lives can’t be put into words.”
Receive quality journalism wherever you are, on any device. Keep up to date from the comfort of your own home with a digital subscription.
Any time | Any place | Anywhere
SUBSCRIBE TO CURRENT EDITION TODAY
and get access to our archive editions dating back to 2007(CLICK ON THE TITLE BELOW TO SUBSCRIBE)