Knockcroghery men take up Atlanta challenge for children’s hospital

Two men from the Knockcroghery area will be among a 32-strong Irish team taking part in a marathon in Atlanta, Georgia later this month in aid of Temple Street Children’s Hospital.             Seamus Brennan from Knockcroghery and Eddie Miley from Gailey, Knockcroghery, independently offered to get involved after hearing an appeal on a local radio station for a volunteer from Co. Roscommon. Both will now undertake the arduous 26 mile journey through the streets of Atlanta on March 25th next.             The participation of a person from each of Ireland’s 32 counties was the aim of Dubliner Bob O’Sullivan. With 31 of the 32 counties secured, he went on Shannonside and appealed for a participant from the one remaining county, Roscommon. Both Seamus and Eddie responded to the call and Roscommon, instead of having no representative, will now be one of the only counties with two!             Bob O’Sullivan is no stranger to Atlanta. He has been involved with Dublin City Marathon for 27 years and was alongside the Irish athletics team at the Olympics in Atlanta in 1996. Now, he heads up a different Irish team aiming to win gold for Temple Street Children’s Hospital.             Eddie and Seamus between them have clocked up 40 marathons, and in Atlanta Seamus will be walking, while Eddie plans to run. The two will fly out Thursday, March 22nd, complete the marathon on Sunday and return to Ireland on Monday. Training is now underway, with Seamus hoping to get in 40 miles each week before the marathon. ‘You have to, to get built up for the 26 miles,’ he reports.             There is a seven-hour cut off point, after which the roads will be re-opened, but hopefully the two courageous Roscommon men will be well home at that stage!             Fundraising for Temple Street continues this week and there will be a quiz in Murray’s in Knockcroghery on Friday night at 9 p.m. in aid of the children’s hospital. Sponsorship cards are also available and anyone that wants to give donations can do so personally to the two men. Seamus Brennan can be contacted at (087) 6261578, while Eddie can be contacted on (086) 2561563.