Offaly Camino Canal Way Walk hoping for major public support

The countdown is well and truly on for the annual Offaly Camino Canal Way Charity Walk in aid of Self Help Africa.

The organisers are hoping for a massive response to the event this year as they celebrate their sixth annual charity walk which starts at the Fiona Pender Memorial along the Tullamore Canal Way at 9am sharp on Sunday, February 5.

Organisers have plenty of sponsorship cards for those who would like to join in and walk a few miles for charity on February 5 (the day before the St Brigid's Day bank holiday) along the canal from Tullamore to the famous Croghan Hill.

If anybody requires a sponsorship card, they can get in contact with Ronan Scully at ronan.scully@selfhelpafrica.org. To register for the event, go to https://selfhelpafrica.org/ie/offaly-camino-canal-way-walk/

Food and beverages will be supplied throughout the walk and the organisers thank local sponsors for this. Also, after the walk there will be a special Mass at 2pm on Croghan Hill for everyone, with a BBQ and tea/coffee also provided for all walkers.

It is advised to pack a change of clothes which can be transported to Croghan Hill for you.

This walk will incorporate a spiritual journey for many as it is in conjunction with the Camino Way (The Way of Saint James). As participants make their voyage the canal, there will be water/snack stops at Ballycommon and Daingean and people can join at any point along the way as the group heads for Croghan Hill for mass at 2pm. After mass, walkers will receive complimentary BBQ refreshments.

All donations on the day of the event will be gratefully received and will go directly to the charity. Self Help Africa is dedicated to ending hunger and poverty in rural Africa, especially in East Africa in countries such as Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia where some 36 million people are hungry and thirsty at this time. In Africa some 250 million people, farmers and their families, suffer hunger and malnutrition as they struggle to cope with extreme rural poverty.

Also, you can donate online at various Facebook/social media fundraising pages set up by the participants taking part, with online donations going to the charity.

“We would encourage everyone and anyone to take part, enjoy the beauty of nature, take in some exercise and do something very worthwhile for charity and also enjoy yourself in the company of your family, friends and other participants as you walk along the scenic Canal to Croghan Hill,” said Clara native Ronan Scully.

“Please feel free to join us either in person or maybe you might want to do it virtually from the area of where you live. Either way we would love you to join us and support in any way a very worthy Irish charity – Self Help Africa.”

If you would like to be part of this special event or to make a donation towards the charity or to sponsor a participant, please contact any of the following: Laz Molloy (086 6778807), Aislinn Molloy (087 0688530), Ricey Scully (086 8153047), Paul Galvin (087 8375407), Nora Kavanagh (087 9945964), Mark Plunkett (083 0459377), Dave Kavanagh (083 3720950), Vanessa Shortall (087 7936794), Tracey Dooley (087 9557160).

Also, if any company or business or individual wants to offer sponsorship, organisers are looking for people or companies to sponsor a kilometre of the 20Km walk. If they do so, that kilometre will be dedicated to the sponsor with signage and info about them.

The walk will maintain a pace which is suitable to people of all levels of fitness.

Please see details about the Offaly Camino Canal Way Walk Challenge 2023 and further details about the charity's work on www.selfhelpafrica.org