Zombie run helps McVerry Trust

IN the week that hugely popular American TV show ‘The Walking Dead’ returned to our screens, Fairview Park, resembled one of its sets on October 27 as students and staff took part in the fifth annual City of Dublin Education and Training Board (CDETB) Zombie Fun Run in aid of the Peter McVerry Trust.  

Colaiste Dhulaigh, Colaiste Ide, Kylemore College and Pearse College joined hosts, Marino College, to raise awareness and funds for this very worthy cause which has been embedded in the local community since its establishment in 1983.

Events kicked off early in the morning as the Beauty Therapy students from Marino and Colaiste Dhulaigh made themselves available to apply zombie make-up to the participants. 

A steady stream of zombies, ghost and ghouls made their way from the beauticians’ rooms to the college gym where participants were gathering to hear Principal of Marino College, Blake Hodkinson, introduce Pat Doyle, chief executive of the Peter McVerry Trust and special guest, RTE’s Kathyrn Thomas, to the crowd. 

Given the Trust’s roots in working with young people, Mr Doyle said it was fantastic to get this support from the CDETB and he was “particularly happy that this was a young person’s event” and that ”raising awareness with young people about homelessness is exactly where the trust want to be”.  

Also, speaking at the event, Kathryn Thomas described Peter McVerry as “an incredible, inspirational man”.  No stranger to fitness regimes through her TV work on Operation Transformation, Kathryn spoke about the link between physical and mental wellbeing and how health is “not just about being fit but about looking after your mental health as well”.  

She added that “it’s not the big people at the top that make a difference, people coming together and working together to make change is where it all starts”.

Overall €1,313 was raised and if any readers want to add to that total, donations can be made via www.pmvtrust.ie. The Trust will hold its annual Christmas Concert on December 3 with details of tickets available on their website.

REPORT: Tony Considine