Dubs Star Launches Focus Ireland Dublin Tunnel Run

Dubs Star Launches Focus Ireland Dublin Tunnel Run and Calls on 10,000 People to Sign Up to Raise €175K to Combat and Prevent Homelessness

--No tolls, barriers or rain guaranteed on this unique run through the largest city tunnel in Europe for a great cause!--

Dubs star Kevin McManamon took time out of the All Ireland Champions campaign to launch Focus Ireland’s Port Tunnel run which aims to raise over 175K in vital funds to help the charity’s work to combat and prevent homelessness.

All-Ireland final goal hero Kevin teamed up with Dubs fan Sarah Morrissey to publicise Focus Ireland’s appeal for 10,000 to sign up now for the 10K which takes place on August 12th.

The entry fee is only €25 – which Focus Ireland highlighted will pay for more than 10 hot meals for someone who is homeless.  Focus Ireland said it needs all the help it can get from the public as more people are seeking support due to the impact of the recession.

Man of the Match in the Leinster Semi-Final win last weekend Kevin said: “I would really encourage everyone to sign up for the Focus Ireland Dublin Tunnel Run. It’s a great way to raise money for the vital services needed to tackle homelessness in Ireland.”

“I am happy to help to support Focus Ireland’s great work and think this run will be great craic.  People can do it by themselves or with friends, family or team mates from their own sporting clubs.”

He added: “It’s terrible that in this day and age there are still up to 5,000 homeless people at any one time here and even more worryingly I know from talking to Focus Ireland that 1 in 7 people using homeless services is a child. I would really emphasise to each individual person that your 25 euro registration fee will really help Focus Ireland to support children, families and single people who have no place to call home and to prevent many others from becoming homeless.”

Focus Ireland pointed out that the run is a chance for people to take part in a special event as it’s the first time ever since the port tunnel opened more than six years ago that it will be closed for a charity run.

Only one tunnel run took place previously just before the tunnel opened in 2006.  People can take part with no tolls, barriers or even having to worry about getting soaked in the Irish summer weather.

The 10K event is now open to all walkers, joggers and runners and Focus Ireland is encouraging people to get book their place now as it expects places to be quickly snapped up.

Sinead Price, of Focus Ireland said: “This is going to be a great event as it offers people a unique chance to run the length of the Port Tunnel and back again to make up what is bound to be a really exciting 10K event.  So whether you aspire to complete a 10K run for the very first time or want to race against the clock while also raising much needed funds for people who are homeless this is the race for you. ”

Sinead added: “The money raised will also help to pay for our vital services which benefitted nearly 7,500 people who are homeless or at risk last year which was a 13% rise from 2010.  Places for unique events like this for such a low entry fee sell out quick so we would advise people to check out www.focusireland.ie  email events@focusireland.ie <mailto:events@focusireland.ie>  or phone 01 8815 900 to book your place now.”
 
Focus Ireland is getting help from the well-known Dublin based “Clonliffe Harriers”, Ireland’s oldest athletics club, in planning for the race.

Lochlann Walsh is part of the organising committee for the inaugural Focus Ireland event and ran the tunnel race, organised by the club just before the tunnel first opened in 2006.

Lochlann said: “The most enjoyable element of the run was the novelty factor! It was such an unusual location and because it was indoors the atmosphere was electric with Mexican waves going up and down the runners during the run, along with roars of encouragement that would start at the back and move their way up to the front of the group and back again. There was a real sense of fun, excitement and doing something different.”

He continued: “Personally I am thrilled that the funds raised are for Focus Ireland I’ve always had an interest in homelessness. What impresses me about Focus Ireland is the manner in which the teams deal not only with the symptoms of homelessness but with the underlying causes, trying to put structures in place to prevent homelessness in the first place.”

“Through my involvement with Focus Ireland I have also been educated that homelessness is often an unseen issue; it is not just people sleeping rough on our streets and in fact this is only the tip of the iceberg. People caught up homelessness come from all walks of life, particularly in the current economic climate.”

Focus Ireland paid a special thanks to National Roads Authority, Eigis Road & Tunnel Operation Ireland, Dublin Port Company, Store Street Gardaí and Bootcamp Ireland for their help in organising this new event. Tipperary Water is the official water sponsor for the race.

For further information and to sign up now log on to www.focusireland.ie or join the charity’s 120,000 + fans on their social networks on <http://www.facebook.com/focusirelandcharity>