Unique run takes in city streets

A NUMBER of high-profile supporters, including fitness enthusiast Kathryn Thomas, Minister for Social Protection, Leo Varadkar, Senator David Norris, and Rory O Neill (Panti Bliss), helped launch the St James’s Hospital Foundation’s annual Liberties Fun Run last week. 

The 6km fun run, which starts and ends in the historic Royal Hospital Kilmainham, is now in its eighth year.

It is a unique event in that it is one of the few road races that Dublin City Council permits. 

Funds raised will go towards the renovation of Ireland’s largest free STI, HIV and infectious diseases service, the GUIDe Clinic, at St James’s Hospital.

The GUIDe clinic, which treats 27,000 patients per year, has been fundraising in order to improve the infrastructure of the department since 2011.

All monies raised from the 2016 Fun Run will enable them to revamp the facilities in order to continue to deliver world class treatment to patients with HIV, sexually transmitted diseases and infectious diseases in a modern environment. 

Dr Dominic Rowley, consultant in Genito Urinary Medicine, said: “Today, the life expectancy of someone with HIV who takes their medications on a daily basis is virtually the same as that of someone in Ireland who does not have HIV.

“I am so proud to be associated with this clinic and the wonderful staff and patients that make it tick but as is the case for many hospitals in the country, we are currently housed in a building no longer fit for its purpose.

“That is why, being beneficiaries of the 2016 Liberties Fun Run represents such a great opportunity to begin to provide better facilities that our patients and staff deserve.”

Last year, approximately 900 participants ran, jogged and walked the cobblestones of Dublin’s Liberties, taking in James’s Street, St James’s Gate, St Catherine’s Church, Thomas Street, the National College of Art and Design, Francis Street, The Coombe and the Guinness Storehouse.

Participants will take in the same route as last year on July 21 at 7.45pm.

Last year’s event raised over €30,000 for the hospital’s Target Lung Cancer campaign which aims to facilitate world-leading clinical research and pursue better diagnostic solutions that can lead to personalised cancer treatments for patients at the hospital.

The St James’s Hospital Foundation Liberties Fun Run will take place on Thursday, July 21 at 7.45pm. Book early as places are limited.

An ‘Early Bird Registration’ fee of €27 applies until the end of June with the fee rising to €30 from July 1.

All proceeds raised will go to the Guide Clinic Refurbishment Fund.