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250 climbers scale new heights for charity by climbing Ireland’s Four Peaks in one weekend to raise over €300,000 to support Focus Ireland’s work to combat and prevent homelessness
- Charity is now calling on people to sign up for its September Focus Ireland Four Peaks Challenge – Flagship event has now raised €4 Million since 1998.
A total of 250 climbers scaled the heights for charity this weekend in the Focus Ireland Four Peaks Challenge as they climbed the highest peak in each of the four provinces in 48 hours to raise over €300,000 to help combat and prevent homelessness.
The 250 climbers were backed by 130 drivers who were also part of the 55 teams taking part as they drove the weary climbers between each of the four peaks over the weekend.
The climbers were joined by TV3’s Sinead Desmond who took part in the event for the 2nd year running. The TV presenter has been a great supporter of Focus Ireland and helped to launch the event for the charity earlier this year.
The event kicked off on Friday June 10th and finished on Sunday 12th and the mountains climbed were: Carrauntoohil (Kerry), Mweelrea (Mayo), Slieve Donard (Down) and finished off on Sunday with Lugnaquillia (Wicklow).
Focus Ireland praised all the people taking part in the event and said their amazing efforts will help the charity to continue to provide its vital services and housing to support vulnerable families and single people who are homeless or at risk of losing their home.
The most recent figures available show there are up to 5,000 people homeless in Ireland with a small number of this total sleeping rough and the majority stuck living in emergency accommodation. This is the 14th annual Focus Ireland Four Peaks Challenge and the event has now raised nearly €4 million since it first began in 1998.
Focus Ireland said the Four Peaks is more important than ever this year as more people are seeking help at the very time when there have been cuts to funding and a drop in donations due to the impact of the recession. The funds raised from the event will support Focus Ireland’s work to support 2,500 households to secure a home by 2013.
Focus Ireland has also committed to support 6,500 people through its services each year as the charity redoubles its own work to help prevent a homeless crisis developing as the impact of the recession deepens nationwide.
Focus Ireland services include providing aftercare support and accommodation for vulnerable young people leaving State care at 18 to support them to move on to independent living. The money raised by the Four Peaks will also help to fund Focus Ireland’s Coffee Shop and advice and Information Service based in Temple Bar in Dublin.
The Coffee Shop serves 40,000 meals a year to families, children and single people who are homeless or at risk while the advice service works to help people secure a home and to prevent others from becoming homeless in the first place.
Focus Ireland Director of Fundraising Mark Mellett said: “Services like this are vital to help people move on from homelessness. Focus Ireland depends more than ever on events like the Four Peaks to help ensure we can provide these and other vital services and housing. Services that directly support people move out of homelessness as quickly as possible and help many other vulnerable families to keep a roof over their heads.”
The charity confirmed it will hold a second Focus Ireland Four Peaks Challenge in September and is inviting teams to sign up for the event which will take place over the weekend of 16th-18th September 2011.
Mark said: All the teams have had great fun and enjoyed the event this weekend while raising money to support Focus Ireland’s work with people who are homeless and those at risk. I hope the great efforts of the all the people taking part in the event this weekend will act to inspire people to sign up for the September Four Peaks.”
He added: “We would also really like to say a big thanks to the continued support of the mountain rescue teams once again at all four sites without whom this event would not be possible each year.”
To sign up for the Four Peaks Challenge - sponsored by 100-102 Today FM - or to find out more about ways to support Focus Ireland - people can email events@focusireland.ie or phone 01-881 5900. Alternatively log on to www.focusireland.ie and click on the fundraising events section.
This year the 70 teams came from far and wide as people signed up from companies, clubs and groups of friends. Teams are made up of a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 5 climbers plus at least 2 auxiliary team members (minimum 2 drivers per vehicle) to split the driving and provide support for the climbers. Each team had to raise at least €4,500 in sponsorship to take part in the event.
After a briefing session and equipment check, the challenge kicked off with a climb up Carrauntoohil on the afternoon of Friday 10th June. After getting a good rest the teams drove on to Mweelrea in Co Mayo on Saturday. Drivers later transferred the teams to Slieve Donard in Co Down. Then finally on Sunday morning all teams headed off to climb Slieve Donard and then it was cross-country again for the final climb of Lugnaquillia in Co Wicklow.
The Four-Peaks Challenge is kindly supported by Today FM.
** To sign up for the Four Peaks Challenge on September 16-18th 2011 or for further information about the Four Peaks please contact Focus Ireland at 01 8815 900 or log on to www.focusireland.ie
As well as organising training days to support participants, Focus Ireland launched a new Facebook tab with information and advice on the challenge. The tab also includes training tips and nutritional advice before, during and after training. Participants can share this tab with their team at the click of a button by visiting www.facebook.com/focusirelandcharity. photo shows:Monaghan business man Fergal Coyle from fj coyle associates (seated) and his group after climboing the Four Peaks Challenge
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Monday, 13 June 2011 15:55
