Mini Marathon countdown: ‘It’s so great to be able to give back..to say thank you’

Jenny Morrissey will join thousands of women from across Cork and beyond this Sunday to take part in The Echo Women’s Mini Marathon.

For Jenny, a busy mum of three, taking the time out to take part in the event is her way of giving back to an organisation that has been of vital support to her family, Enable Ireland.

The organisation currently provides services to over 13,000 children and adults with disabilities and their families from over 40 locations in 14 counties.

Enable Ireland has been an important support to Jenny and her husband Gary Morrissey, and their three children; Daisy, age seven, and twins, Theo and Alfie, age three.

“All three of the kids are with Enable Ireland…I genuinely do think we would be lost without them. We’ve had nothing but amazing support from them,” says Jenny.

Jenny is no stranger to raising funds for the organisation, and earlier this month, she and her husband hosted a Family Fun Day which raised more than €5,000 for Enable Ireland.

The idea to take part in the mini marathon for the organisation was one that came up at a support group for parents.

“At Enable Ireland, we have a little support group, a walk and talk group, where parents go every Thursday morning. We go for a little walk around and then we go in and have like a chat, a cup of tea or coffee, and some of the workers go every week and they offer support,” said Jenny.

The group, Jenny says, has been an invaluable support to her.

“Everybody’s in a somewhat similar position, you know, so it’s great to have somebody who understands,” she said.

“When our boys were small, they used to come with us every week until they started preschool, and it would be the only time of the week that we get to sit down and have a cup of tea. The staff would have been be on the floor playing with them, and we got to just sit down and take the breather for five minutes.”

The members set their sights on doing a couch to 5k and decided to work towards taking part in The Echo Women’s Mini Marathon together.

“We thought, we can all work together, we can all do it, and we just thought it would be a nice way, for all of us, to do something different and to give back, and it’s such a good cause.

“It is just nice to give back, because, we’ve genuinely gotten so much from them. Not even just our kids, but me and my husband, ourselves, the way we’re supported and everything like that. We would be lost without them, so it is so lovely to be able to do something for them in return, a thank-you.”

Jenny’s sentiment has been echoed by many others taking part in this weekend’s event.

Last week in WoW!, we heard from the Sheehan family who are taking part in The Echo Women’s Mini Marathon in memory of their mum, and grandmother, Delia.

Their dad Mossie previously fundraised for the Mercy Foundation in gratitude for the wonderful care he received at the Mercy Hospital when he had a kidney removed after a cancer diagnosis.

Mossie’s wife, Delia was cared for by the Mercy Hospital and by the Lee Road Clinic when she was diagnosed with cancer.

Delia sadly passed away just over two months ago at age 65.

Now her family have rallied together to take part in the mini marathon in her memory and to raise funds for the Mercy Foundation.

“They took care of our mam, and they took care of our dad too,” said daughter Ciara.

Rachel Stevenson, Chief Executive of the Mercy Foundation, said that the mini marathon gives families a way to remember their loved ones.

“It’s a lovely thing to do to honour Delia’s memory. And we do really appreciate the support and what it allows us to do as a Foundation to extend that support to other families who will need it in the future.”

Since it was established two decades ago, the Mercy Hospital Foundation has raised in the region of €17 to €18 million for the Mercy Hospital.

These funds have been used to purchase critical infrastructure and equipment for the hospital.

At the moment, the Foundation is helping to fund the family rooms in the hospital, to “create a space where a family can sit down, have a bit of privacy, have a chance to talk to one another... if their relative is very ill or has been in hospital for a long time… there can be lots of different reasons why a family member might need a family room, but it just gives them a space away from the really busy ward.

“It’s because of the support of the people of Cork, that the Foundation is able to provide that funding to the hospital. And it’s things like the mini marathon that allow us to do that,” explained Rachel.

Team Mercy Foundation will be well represented at the mini marathon this weekend, which is no surprise given how the hospital, which turns 170 years old next year, has touched the lives of so many in Cork.

“I think the Mercy Hospital is a special place, and the patients are cared for like the staff would care for a member of their own family. That’s what I see every day.”

For many, a personal experience with an organisation or charity is often the driving force behind their reason to take part in The Echo Mini Marathon.

Heather Troy will also be among the thousands of women taking part this weekend. She is raising funds for the Crann Centre who provided invaluable support to her mum.

Fiona Higgins, who had a hysterectomy at 39 after years of debilitating symptoms, is taking part in The Echo Women’s Mini Marathon to raise funds for Endo Ireland. 

A glance at the fundraising page for this year’s event gives an insight into the vast number of organisations being supported by the mini marathon with participants taking part for organisations such as the Cork University Hospital Charity, Marymount Hospice, Bru Columbanus, The Rainbow Club, Pieta, Make A Wish, Cork ARC Cancer Support, and many others.

One thing that all those taking part have in common is that they form part of a very special community coming together, not just to raise funds, but to show their support for one another.

This is especially evident looking on at the event from the supporters’ side on event day; watching the sea of colourful t-shirts, some emblazoned with team names, photographs of loved ones, or charities, wave its way past the start line, hearing the cheers and laughter, seeing the high fives, the hugs and pats on the backs, and feeling the warmth that comes when people join forces to really make a difference.

Sarah O’Connell, a Clinical Nurse Manager with Horizons (Cope Foundation in Cork Communities), previously said that each step participants make goes beyond fundraising. “ The Echo Women’s Mini Marathon is more than just a 6K run / walk or a fundraiser; it’s a visible celebration of equality, ensuring the people we support take their rightful place at the heart of society. It’s the highlight of our year!

“By walking and running together, the people we support, their loved ones and staff members build a vibrant, inclusive community. Every step we take goes beyond fundraising, actively ensuring that the people we support are seen, valued, and empowered in our society, “ she added.

Each year, The Echo Mini Marathon helps to raise vital funds for many organisations, with an estimated €1.5m raised by fundraisers annually.

Cork Athletics has set up a Charity Meeting Point for this year’s event.

Groups will be able to meet at the Graffiti Room of the Marina Market on Sunday morning from 10am until noon.

The mini marathon is 6km in length, with the event beginning at the Centre Park Road at 1pm, and concluding at Kennedy Park. Registration for The Echo Mini Marathon, is open to those aged 13 and over. It will remain open online until this Saturday at 6pm.

To register, see www.echolive.ie/minimarathon