Marathon man gets a hero’s welcome in Clonshaugh

NORTHSIDE locals welcomed Shane Finn to their area during Day 10 of his massive ‘24 Marathon in 24 Days’ charity challenge. 

Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Ireland (SBHI) marathon man, Shane, who is running the marathons around Ireland to raise €100,000 for the charity, was treated to a hero’s welcome by Dublin Branch members and service users when he arrived in Clonshaugh last Saturday week.

On July 1 Shane set off from Bettystown, County Meath, and ran 26.2 

miles on Day 10 of this epic challenge, through Julianstown, Balbriggan, and Swords before reaching the SBHI Resource Centre in Clonshaugh at approximately 3.20pm.

Members of SBHI Dublin Branch, Resource Centre Clonshaugh service users, SBHI staff, volunteers, and family members gathered outside the centre, and cheered Shane over the finish line with a hero’s welcome.

Edwin Nienhuis, from Balbriggan, ‘Team Alanna’ – Keith Russell from Navan, who runs pushing his daughter Alanna who has Cerebral Palsy, Joanne Ni Shuilleabhain from Dingle, Nicole Hodson from Lusk and other members of Lusk Athletic Club joined Shane for his July 1 event. 

Tired but delighted with the warm welcome, Shane took the time to speak with everyone and had his photograph taken before leaving for a well deserved post-marathon physio session.

Following on from ‘12 Marathons, 12 Days’, when Shane raised €36,000 for SBHI in 2014, the unstoppable Kerryman came back with double the distance – a total of 628.8 miles – to conquer!

SBHI patron and former Republic of Ireland star Packie Bonner kicked off Shane’s latest challenge in Donegal Town on June 22.

Shane is now making his way through 24 counties of Ireland as he covers a marathon a day for 24 days, ending in his native Dingle, this Saturday, July 15.

Shane, who is 25 and owns the WK Fitness business in his native Kerry, has been inspired to fundraise for SBHI by his cousin Mary, who lives with the conditions.

You can track Shane’s daily progress live on http://live.primaltracking.com/24marathons/

You can text GIVE to 50300 to donate €4 or log onto www.24marathons24days.ie to make a donation.