This article is from page 94 of the 2008-09-23 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 94 JPG
THE Clare ladies football panel won’t be resting on their laurels for two long if they win Sunday’s AIll- Ireland intermediate final against Tipperary in Croke Park.
Instead, they be looking to the fol- lowing weekend as a number of them have pledged to take part in the Run to Africa, which a “Playing for Life’ abu NCebe-DKSDONoMNDODIOT-IN Ros
Playing for Life was founded by well-known sportswoman and broadcaster Tracy Piggott following a visit to Ethiopia in 2004. Tracy
was determined to do set up a project that would use sport as a tool to help young people in some of the worlds’ poorest places, since sport has al- ways played such a huge part in her own life.
In order to continue providing sup- port to some of the world’s poorest countries and communities, Play- ing for Life is undertaking a major fundraising initiative throughout the island of Ireland with the support of Tesco Ireland, the Ladies Gaelic Football Association, Sport News Ireland and well-known sports per- sonalities like Sonia O’Sullivan and
Eamon Coghlan.
The Run to Africa will take place over the first weekend in October. Volunteers, who will be asked to raise €100/£100 per kilometer, will be able to see the collective progress of the 9500 km run from Dublin to Addis Ababa on a video screen (similar to the flight path display on a plane).
The Clare contribution to the project is being spearheaded by the ladies intermediate team, with Emma O’Driscoll coordinating their efforts. ‘There are six of us on the team who form the committee Louise Henchy
our captain, Majela Griffin, Niamh Keane, Aine Kelly, Marie Considine and myself. Many of the other girls on the team are also helping out,” O’Driscoll reavealed.
“To raise money we have asked schools around the county to hold a colours day where by they wear the jersey of their favourite team into school and bring in two euros so far 18 generous schools have agreed from the 24 pupil school of Rineen outside Lahinch to the Holy Family here in Ennis.
‘Teachers from these schools then can either run the kilometres them-
selves on the treadmills or nominate one of the clare ladies or one of the other sportspeople who will be run- ning. Many of us are past pupils of these schools so they have kindly nominated us! The colours day will take place the week of the 29th to the 3rd.
“Diarmuid McMahon, Niall Gil- ligan, The Clare Camogie team, and Seamus Power are some of the well known sports people who will run. Clubs all over the county will be asked to run as we have to cover 300km,’ she added.