Buncrana family to run marathon in their back yard for healthcare heroes

Christopher, Patrick and Jack Doherty, along with their father Gary will be taking on the unique feat on May 6.

Their Go Fund Me page, which was set up just three days ago, has already reached almost E1500 of the E2000 target and the money raised will go towards those working in our health service amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

The family has worked out that the yard is 21.5 metres in length, wall to wall.

This means that each of them will be required to complete the track 490 times each. It will all be undertaken on the one day and they are hoping to broadcast their runs live on Facebook, so that people can check out their efforts.

Christopher told the Journal they came out with the idea for the fundraiser while they were ‘all talking around the kitchen table.’

“Like most people in the country, we’ve been confined to home. We were seeing the figures coming in each evening and asking ourselves how we could do out bit to help. We were sitting chatting around the table and we came up with the idea for the marathon in the yard.”

Christopher, Patrick and Jack will all run their part of the marathon. Gary has just undergone surgery but still wanted to take part, so will power walk his 490 lengths.

Christopher quipped how there is a ‘lot of training’ underway at the minute in the household.

The family, who live in Ardaravan Heights, would all have a big interest in sport and compete in boxing. Patrick and Jack are, in particular, ‘very active.’

All four have been delighted at the support shown so far for the fundraiser and said they are very grateful for all donations received.

“The response has been massive. Thank you so much to everyone who has donated so far. To have almost raised our target by day two is brilliant. Working on the front line at the minute must be an enormous challenge, so hopefully this can help and we can give back to those who are working on the front line.

“We appreciate all the donations and support, as well as the shares of the Go Fund Me link on social media. We’d really like that to continue. We’re probably going to be flat out posting on social media and reminding people, but it’s only for the next two weeks!”

You can check out the fundraiser and donate any amount you wish by visiting www.gofundme.com/f/back-yard-relay-marathon