From Inishowen to Kenya for Charity

Two friends from Inishowen and Derry who met as students in Glasgow are planning the trip of a lifetime to Kenya this summer, and Carndonagh walkers and runners will be helping them to get there.

Catherine Warren from Gleneely, Inishowen, and Claire McClintock from Mullenan, Derry met when they started as first-year students in Physiotherapy at Glasgow Caledonian University in 2007 and have remained firm friends ever since.

Volunteers

Now as part of their third year, they can choose anywhere in the world for a 4-week "elective" hospital placement and are planning to go to Kenya to volunteer their "helping hands" as physiotherapy assistants.

The "Helping Hands to Kenya" campaign has been launched by Catherine and Claire’s family and friends to help raise funds for the trip.

Treadmill

Carndonagh Gym is hosting a "Treadmill-A-Thon" on 28th March, and teams of walkers and runners are busy raising sponsorship for a marathon on its four treadmill machines.

Six people per team walking or running just over four miles each will cover the 26.2 miles needed for a classic marathon.

Half of the money raised at this event will help the girls fund their trip and half will be donated to the Physiotherapy Unit at Carndonagh Hospital.

Prize Draw

Treadmillers and sponsors alike will also be entered into a prize draw for a range of prizes generously donated by local businesses.

You can help out by sponsoring a Treadmiller, or if you feel you want to go the distance yourself please get in touch with Catherine’s mum, Marianne Ashcroft on 087 249 7812 who is co-ordinating the teams.

But that’s not all.

Catherine and Claire’s friends in Glasgow have also offered to run the distance and raise sponsorship there – so this will be an International Treadmill-a-thon!

That’s still not all!

Teddyballet

Catherine’s brother Mike and friend Nigel Hegarty are members of the band Teddyballet, finalists in the 2009 "Donegal’s Got Talent" competition.

Teddyballet are planning two fundraising gigs in the next few weeks at which they and several other local bands will take part.

The first of these will be in the Central Bar, Letterkenny on 26th March.

Funds

The girls need to raise funds towards accommodation and food, 24hr support whilst in Kenya, flights and airport transfers, insurance and some supplies to take to the hospital.

Catherine says: "I am really excited about the possibility of this placement and the experiences it will provide and I know it will be a rewarding and educational experience."

Background:

Claire attended Foyle & Londonderry College and is the daughter of Andrew & Margaret McClintock, while Catherine was a prize-winning pupil of Raphoe Royal & Prior School, which was also where Catherine and Mike met their friend Nigel.

Catherine is also the grand-daughter of the late John Holt, the well-known local RNLI organiser who died in 2007.

Contacts:

Catherine: c.warren06@hotmail.com

Claire: c_mcclintock88@hotmail.com

Marianne: 087 249 7812 (from UK 00353 87 249 7812)

Email globaltiger@iol.ie