Former Derry star launches charity marathon

[county derry post]

Former Derry star asking for marathon effort

By Cahair O'Kane
sport@derrypost.com   

ARE you prepared to make a marathon effort for club, county, CRY and cancer awareness?
That is the question being posed by former Derry star Ronan Rocks as he calls on the Derry public to come together and help raise money for two major charities, which is to be called The Derry CRY/Cancer Club Challenge.
The challenge that is being put to each of the 40 GAA clubs in Derry is to enlist at least five individuals to complete a marathon in Bellaghy this summer in the hope of helping raise over £40,000.
The specially designed course will take runners right around Bellaghy on a 15 kilometre run, starting at the club and going around the outskirts of Bellaghy, Ballynease and Ballyscullion before finishing back at the gates of Pairc Séan dé Brún.
Whatever money is raised will be split between CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young) and Marie Curie Cancer Care, two charities which are very close to Rocks' heart.
The former Derry forward was diagnosed with Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma in April 2004.  Having just helped his home club Loup win their first ever Ulster title, he had to temporarily hang up the boots to undergo chemotherapy treatment for the disease and missed out on Derry's run to the All-Ireland semi-final in 2004.
However, by the middle of 2005, he had made a full recovery and was back playing in the green and white of Loup, helping them reach another county final that year against his now club, Bellaghy Wolfe Tones.
Tragically though 1 week before the 2005 county final his sister in law Marcella died of a sudden cardiac illness, ARVC (Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy).  She was aged just 24.
One of the charities money will be raised for, Cardiac Risk in the Young, better known as CRY, is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year.
In the decade and a half since the charity was formed, they have raised money to assist in the battle against sudden cardiac deaths among young people.
CRY, among other things, have played a huge role in the push for young athletes to be screened for heart conditions, and are continually doing research into conditions as they affect athletes and the general population under 35.
There are well over 1,500 senior club footballers, hurlers and camogie in Derry at this present minute.  Statistics show that one in three people will contract cancer at some stage in their lives.  So of those 1,500 active men and women, 500 will need the help that the likes of Marie Curie provide at some stage.  The other 1,000 will more than likely have to deal with the effects of watching someone suffer with the disease.
That is why Ronan Rocks and his backroom team of three men, namely Bellaghy stalwart Colm 'Nipper' McElwee, current Wolfe Tones' senior footballer Conan Brown, and yours truly, now hope to raise money to split between the two afore mentioned charities.
But they can't do it themselves.
The wheels are in motion.  The plan now is to recruit volunteers who are willing to put themselves through their paces.  The initial aim is for five men or women from each club in Derry to put themselves forward.
The idea has been in the public domain for scarcely a week and there has been huge interest already.  A handful of clubs have already signed up, including a few from beyond the Oak Leaf boundaries.
The challenge is set.  Do it for whatever reason you want.  Do it to represent your club, do it for the self satisfaction, do it because you love running.  But most of all, do it for these charities.
Ronan Rocks didn't think when he picked up an Ulster club medal in 2003 that, four months later, he would be diagnosed with cancer while in his mid 20s.
The money raised for Marie Curie will help fight the battle against cancer.  The money raised for CRY will help pay for screening young athletes.
You never know when it will be you.  Make the difference now.
Anyone wishing to participate, be you involved with a GAA club or not, can contact Ronan on 07875400839 or via email at ronan@moltools.co.uk, or Cahair at sport@derrypost.com.

[haranguerer]

Its a 15k, not a marathon.

[Hoof Hearted]

do it 4 times then if it aint enough for ye.

[haranguerer]

 

I'm not slating it, its clearly for a very good cause, but it looks stupid saying its a marathon when its not

[dublinfella]

Is this restricted to the 40 GAA clubs in Derry?

[county derry post]

Is this restricted to the 40 GAA clubs in Derry?

Absolutely not, it's just that the primary aim is to get every one of the 40 clubs in Derry involved.  Anyone who wants to take part is more than welcome.  Send me an email to sport@derrypost.com if you need any more info.

Cahair

[isourboydownyet]

Its a 15k, not a marathon.

I'm not slating it, its clearly for a very good cause, but it looks stupid saying its a marathon when its not

ah sweet jesus theres always one

put me down big man

[Cromagh]

u may start training now for it...........Big Rocks said u can do the special fun run!

[whiskeysteve]

Best of luck for the campaign also, great cause! Has been some great work and events for CRY up round our direction also

[imtommygunn]

What date is it on??

[Hoof Hearted]

What date is it on??

No date announced yet.

We support it fully but we don't support the regristrations being taken from a two faced nutjob. One week hammering people the next week pretending nothing is wrong and its ok to raise money for cancer. Double standards alright.

go and f**k yourself, with comments like that they can do without your support. This is a serious event for a serious charity. and having spoken to 2 of the organisers personally since Monday, it is in full swing already and getting plenty of interest, and money, already. So your little jibes will certainly not deter them. Ronan Rocks mobile no is on the advertisement, ring him and he will meet up with you and you can voice your concerns face to face instead of typing. Let us know how you get on !

What date is it on??

there is nothing fixed yet, i think they are looking at maybe next sept. Will be hard to get a date to suit everybody.

[lynchbhoy]

What date is it on??

No date announced yet.

We support it fully but we don't support the regristrations being taken from a two faced nutjob. One week hammering people the next week pretending nothing is wrong and its ok to raise money for cancer. Double standards alright.

no offence fella, but will you fcuk off and stop ruining a good thread that has an important message and charitable societies that will benefit from the money raised.

take your personal abuse of the CDP to pm or preferably away from here altogether. People dont agree with you.
Can you leave this thread alone and have Mr Rocks and O'Kane as well as the CDP free to publiscise this wonderful event.

[county derry post]

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001251599170
A date has been set for the Derry CRY / Cancer Club Challenge.  It will be held in Bellaghy on Saturday 21 May 2011.  Join the facebook group to keep up to date with further developments.

Cahair O'Kane
Organising Committee