Cork participants raise €23,000 during Goal Mile

More than €23,000 was raised by Cork participants in the Goal Mile 2025 campaign, the highest amount raised by a singular county across Ireland.

The organisation said that €800,000 was raised from last year’s initiative, with thousands across the country coming together across 200 locations in Ireland, Northern Ireland, the US, and Africa.

All funds raised from the initiative will go towards the charity’s ongoing efforts in delivering life-saving aid to communities in Gaza, Sudan, Ethiopia, Syria and beyond.

For more than 40 years, Goal has worked to provide food, shelter, water and sanitation in these regions, with the Goal Mile initiative playing a vital part in sustaining this effort.

According to the organisation, participants in Cork raised the highest amount when compared to other counties across Ireland, seeing more than €23,000 raised for the aid-agency’s worldwide programmes.

The initiative was championed by a number of sports representatives, including Cork’s silver Olympic medalist, Sonia O’Sullivan.

Chief executive Jennifer Farrelly said she was “taken by the camaraderie and community spirit” displayed by those who participated in the campaign.

“Every year at Goal, we are proud to deliver an amazing festive event in the form of the Goal Mile, and 2025 was certainly no different,” said Ms Farrelly.

“Thanks to you, the Goal Mile organisers and participants who stepped up in Cork and beyond, we were able to raise a record fundraising total of €800,000.

“Having experienced it in my own locality, I was taken by the camaraderie and community spirit that was on display, and the colour that was added by all of the lovely festive outfits that people wore for the occasion. At every location, people give up their own time to help raise funds for millions of others caught up in climate and conflict emergencies.”