Clara native's 'Long Walk Back' to Cork 

Stephen Kelly is attempting 'The Long Walk Back' from Clara to Cork, starting Tuesday, August 20, in aid of Enable Ireland and the Jack O'Driscoll Fund.

"I am from Clara but I've been in Cork 40 years, my family are all still in Clara," explains Stephen whose second time it is to undertake such a challenge, having already completed an event called 'Walking Home For 90' in July 2017, from Cork to Clara, in which he raised money for cancer services in Tullamore, Cork and all over.

That time, thanks to "kind donations, generous sponsorships and tremendous support", Stephen succeeded in raising a staggering €10,000!

"I did the challenge originally because my brother was diagnosed with a Grade 4 aggressive tumour and he subsequently died in March 2018.

"We raised a lot of money for that and it was divided out equally between Tullamore Hospital, services in Crumlin, Cork and more."

He will set out from the Clara GAA Pitch in Kilcoursey on Tuesday, August 20 at 9am, accompanied by close friends who will walk the first leg to Portlaoise with him.

So far, his GoFundMe page has raised €655 of it's €5,000 fundraising goal, but Stephen hopes he can surpass that amount again.

"I don't know if I will but I hope to raise as much as I can. It's for Enable Ireland and the Jack O'Driscoll fund. Jack is a young man who was paralyzed during the big snow in 2018, during Storm Emma. He was a tremendous athlete and hurler, I coached him in the U16s and the minors, and this is my way of giving back to him."

Then 19-year-old Jack O'Driscoll made headlines when he was paralysed from the neck down having been out with friends on a soccer pitch in Mayfield, Cork.

He was injured when he jumped into a pile of snow and fell backwards and was unable to get up. His friends immediately contacted emergency services.

Stephen, who admits he loves walking, plans to walk 27 miles every day for five days, notching up a total of 135 miles, or 217 kilometres.

Stephen will start out from Clara on Tuesday August 20 at 9am, following a route that will take him through Tullamore, Killeigh, Mountmellick, Portlaoise, on to Abbeyleix, Durrow, Johnstown, Urlingford, Littleton, Horse and Jockey, into Cashel, Cahir, Mitchelstown, Fermoy, Rathcormac, Watergrasshill, Glamire, and finally Mayfield on Saturday, August 24.

"All funds raised will be divided equally between two fantastic causes that do superb work, they're very close to me personally, so all support is welcome.”

Anyone who wants to join the walk or take part in different parts of it is very welcome and can check out 'The Long Walk' on Facebook or GoFundMe.