80-year-old James Doherty from Kilmacrennan is a familiar face on the local athletics circuit – and he’ll be among the big crowd who take to the starting line in Letterkenny today for the 29th North West 10k road race and walk.
A member of Letterkenny Athletic Club’s Fit for Life group, James has been clocking some brilliant times at some of the first road races of the year, and you can expect another strong run from the inspirational athlete today.
The event gets underway at 11am with the starting gun being fired by Donegal Person of the Year Packie Keeney.
Over a 1,000 walkers and runners have entered for the popular community event that has benefitted 41 charities since 1997. 10k Chairperson Neil Martin said he committee was pleased with numbers registering both online and in-person at the Letterkenny Community on Saturday and Sunday.
“We are ready to go for the 29th North West 10k and it’s all about raising as much money as possible for the three charities which are the Letterkenny Autism Family Support Group, Letterkenny, Alcohol Forum Ireland Donegal Branch and the No Barriers Foundation,” he said.
“Our mission is to see these three very worthy causes get the reward for the hard work they have put in over the last three months to have the resources to do more for their service users.”
Mark Dorriran with his son Naoise and daughter Katie after registering for the North West 10k yesterday.
Last year the North West 10k broke the million euros barrier and currently the total raised sits at €,1.019, 276.
The Mayor of the Letterkenny/Milford Municipal District, Ciaran Brogan was one of the first to register in-person at the Letterkenny Community Centre on Saturday. “It’s a great community event where fun runners, walkers and families come out to support the charity event. I know that’s going to continue today and it’s really down to the huge effort of the North West 10k Committee that it keeps going from strength to strength every year” Mayor Brogan said.
The North West 10k starts at 11am sharp this morning from the Pearse Road in Letterkenny.