Ranelagh couple go for gold in African run

A SOUTHSIDE couple, Anne and Pat Golden, from Ranelagh, took part in the Great Ethiopian Run last month to raise funds for international children’s organisation, Plan International Ireland. 

Anne and Pat, plus 10 runners, raised over €25,000 for Plan International’s child protection and education projects through a variety of different fundraising activities and events.

The 10K race, which took place in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, had over 40,000 runners from all over the  world  and was led off by running legend, and Olympic Gold Medallist, Haile Gebrselassie. 

“It was an experience of a lifetime,” said Anne on her return to Ireland. “It wasn’t the quickest 10K of my life, with all the singing and dancing along the route, but it was definitely the most colourful and interesting.”

As part of the five day trip, the Irish runners visited some of Plan International Ethiopia’s protection programmes in Addis Ababa, as well as in beautiful and historic Lalibela in the north of the country. They were able to see at first-hand the fruits of their fundraising efforts and witness how Plan International is making the lives of local children, especially girls, better.  

“Seeing the projects was definitely the highlight for me,” Pat added. “Knowing that all our hard work in raising money is going to give these children a better start in life made it all worth it.”

For those interested in challenging themselves next year, seeing a beautiful new country and assisting children to reach their full potential, Plan International Ireland is organising three treks: the #Cycle4Girls in Vietnam in April; Nepal in October and a return to Addis Ababa in November.

For more information on Plan International Ireland’s Treks and Challenges, visit www.plan.ie/challenges or call 1800829829.