James ready for record run

James ready for run from Claremorris to Drogheda


Michael Commins

IT’S all systems go for Knock man, James Carty. He will set off from Claremorris next Tuesday morning, July 3, on the first leg of his run to Drogheda. The ‘5 Alive’ is a special fund-raising venture for the Tania McCabe Foundation. The distance is the equivalent of five marathons in five days, a daunting challenge for a man who has never run one regular marathon before.
The Mayo based member of An Garda SiochΡna has been busy out and about on the roads around Claremorris for the last few months, building up stamina for this major challenge. James, who is son of former Mayo TD and Senator, John Carty and his wife Kathleen, is overwhelmed with the support he has been receiving in recent weeks. “The response has been hugely encouraging and so many people are coming on board. There are now two other fellows signed up to run the whole five days with me, Ciaran McGeough, a Corporal in the Irish Army based at Aiken Barracks in Dundalk and also Ronan Fox who is the manager at Tom Fox Motors in Drogheda.
“We will leave from outside the Western Hotel on Tuesday morning at 11am. Anyone who wants to run any distance on any of the days with us to can get in touch via Facebook “5 Alive Challenge”, Twitter @5AliveChallenge or by emailing taniamccabefoundation@gmail.com. Donations can be made online at http://www.mycharity.ie/event/james_cartys_event  There are also sponsorship cards in different locations in Claremorris and Knock as well as bucket collections on the days of the runs in the towns that are being passed through.”
The Foundation has been established to mark the memory of Tania McCabe, a member of the Garda Siochana based in Louth and a native of Louisburgh, who died in March 2007 following the birth of twin boys.  One of those boys Zach also passed away. The surviving twin, Adam, was cared for in the Special Care Baby Unit at Our Lady of Lourdes, Drogheda and Unit 8, Holles Street Hospital, Dublin. He was present at the recent media launch of “5 Alive” presided over by RTE presenter Miriam O’Callaghan.
The Foundation raises funds to assist the National Maternity Hospital in Holles St and Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda to purchase necessary equipment to nurse premature babies.
The first leg of the run is from Claremorris to Castlerea with Lanesboro the destination on Wednesday. Day three will see the runners reach Ballinalack in Co Westmeath. Athboy will be the penultimate stop. The last part of the journey will be from Athboy to Drogheda on Saturday week.