A former Raphoe resident says the spirit of her late parents is helping her put her best foot forward in aid of Dublin’s Mater Foundation.
Samantha Peoples is pounding the streets of the Irish capital as part of the charity’s ‘100 Miles in a Month’ challenge.
All money raised through the initiative will be used to fund life-saving equipment and ground-breaking medical research at the Mater Hospital.
Samantha, who has worked with a number of addiction charities in Donegal, moved to Dublin two years after securing a job with the Probation Service.
She said she decided to get involved in the ‘100 Miles in a Month’ challenge in a bid to give back to the doctors and nurses who helped her parents when they needed it.
“Both my parents have sadly passed away and down through the years they both struggled with ill health from time to time,” said Samantha.
“I used to be fit when I was younger but all that has taken a back seat over the last few years. So in terms of fitness, I haven’t been in a position to do anything like this for the hospitals that cared for my parents apart from giving directly to nurses and medical staff.
“Through the training I have been doing in preparation for this challenge, I am getting fit again and I’m loving every minute of it.”
Samantha’s 100 mile challenge began on February 1 and she will have to run distances ranging from 6.5km to 10km every day this month apart from Sundays.
“It’s great and I love getting on my running gear and getting out there,” she said.
“Dublin has been good to me, I’ve a good job, a happy, loving relationship and I’m fit again.
“I’m delighted to have this fantastic opportunity to make the lives of others that little bit better and I’ve no doubt that my mother and father are looking down on me and getting me through every mile with smile,” she added.
You can donate to Samantha Peoples’s charity effort by logging on to Facebook. Go to her own page, Sam Peoples, or check out Sam’s 100 Mile Run for the Mater Foundation. Alternatively check out the Mater Foundation’s Facebook page.
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)