Cork's Crann Centre to raise €75k at Walk ‘n’ Roll fundraiser

Cork’s Crann Centre has announced a fundraising target of €75,000 at its annual Walk ‘n’ Roll event.

The charity, which provides supports to more than 900 families living with neuro-physical disabilities across Cork and Munster, has raised more than €150,000 through the fundraising event to date.

Now in its sixth year, the charity is inviting members of the public to register for the walk on idonate and to complete a 5km journey in their own way between June 1 and 7.

To mark this year’s Walk ‘n’ Roll, families who attend the Crann Centre will come together to complete their final 1km at the facility’s fully accessible playground on June 6.

The event will then conclude with a family celebration featuring entertainment and activities.

Among those taking part is the Mangan family from Ballinhassig, whose 10-year-old son Rian lives with cerebral palsy.

Sibling workshops 

Rian has been accessing services at the Crann Centre since 2022, alongside his eight-year-old brother Oran, who attends Crann’s sibling workshops.

Rian and Oran’s mother, Miriam Mangan, said the services provided by the Crann Centre have been “invaluable, not just for Rian’s personal development, but for how we function as a family day-to-day”.

“Rian is involved in many of Crann’s programmes, including the Breaking Barriers theatre group, summer camps, Skills on Wheels workshops, and play therapy,” said Ms Mangan.

“Oran regularly attends SibShops, which allow him to share his sibling experience with other children who understand what that’s like.

“The staff are fantastic, and the sense of community and support gives me great reassurance that we’re never on our own.”

The Crann Centre supports individuals and families affected by a wide range of conditions, including spina bifida, hydrocephalus, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, osteogenesis imperfecta, arthrogryposis, spinal muscular atrophy, spinal cord injury, stroke and multiple sclerosis.

Growing every year

Chief executive of the Crann Centre, Padraig Mallon said participation in the event “grows every year”.

The Walk ‘n’ Roll event is supported by Boston Scientific and Cork City FC, with players Seani Maguire and Rory Feely acting as ambassadors for this year’s fundraiser.

The club will also host a bucket collection in support of the charity at their match against Finn Harps on May 29.

For more information, or to register for the event, visit: https://www.idonate.ie/event/WalknRoll2026.