Limerick journalist to dress as elf and take courageous trip to Arctic for charity

A FORMER Limerick Leader reporter and well-known author will be dressing as an elf and towing a car tyre around the county for the next two weeks in aid of charity. 

Local journalist Anthony Galvin, whose book Family Feud was a nationwide best-seller, is training for the Sightsavers.ie event ‘First Light for Sight’ expedition, taking place in Scandinavia.

On January 10, they will fly to northern Scandinavia. The team will hike and ski across snow and ice, in -20°c, dragging their sledges behind them. No electricity, no facilities, in a challenge to push them to the limits.

Before that, though, he will be fundraising around the country doing Christmas shows and will be in Bruff and Ardagh among other places, making balloon animals for children, for donations to the cause. 

“My target is to raise €5,000, which will be enough to cover 156 cataract surgeries. But if I can exceed that, all the better,” he said.

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In Scandinavia, fundraisers aim to watch dawn break over the frozen tundra after six weeks of darkness and to raise vital funds to fight blindness around the world.

“As the light breaks on us, we will know that our efforts will help the light break for people in developing countries with preventable blindness,” said Mr Galvin.

“The money we raise will go towards the vital work of Sightsavers Ireland in thirty countries worldwide.”

As well as being an author, Mr Galvin is a children’s entertainer, and is no stranger to Lapland, having spent more than twenty seasons working at the famous Santa resort as a magician. That’s what he says inspired his unusual approach to fundraising. 

Ciara Smullen, CEO of Sightsavers Ireland, said: “Anthony's fundraising efforts are a fantastic example of how one person's dedication can make a real difference. 

“The funds raised will help fight avoidable blindness, ensuring that people in the countries where we work don’t lose their sight needlessly. 

“We are so grateful for Anthony’s commitment and the generosity of everyone taking on the Arctic challenge this January!”

Click here to donate to Anthony Galvin’s elf charity hike.