Limerick climbers raise over €80,000 for charity

A CHARITY climb of Croagh Patrick in September which was organised by two Limerick men has passed the €80,000 fundraising threshold.

Almost 600 people from across the city and county scaled the famous County Mayo mountain to raise vital funds for cystic fibrosis group ‘TLC4CF’ and Irish Autism Action. The climb was the brainchild of two Adare men, Liam Woulfe and Mike Aherne, and it has since surpassed all expectations in terms of money raised.

“When we started out we were hoping for 100 people who might raise €100 each to get us to €10,000”, Mr Aherne said this week. “As of Monday night, we’ve passed €80,000, and there’s still some money dribbling in.”

Next Thursday, November 16, the organisers will formally present the proceeds of the charity climb to representatives of both charities at a function at the Woodlands House Hotel in Adare.

Mr Aherne said that everybody who took part in the climb on September 29 and 30 is welcome to come along.

“We’re going to be handing over cheques to the two charities next Thursday. Whatever the final fundraising total is, we’ll split it right down the middle, 50/50.

“We’ve sent around a text to everyone to come along, there’ll be pictures from the climb on a bit of a slide show as well.

“People have been very good to support it; these charities do a lot of good work locally. You’re going back to the same people every time looking for money. But they keep on giving”.

When the climb was launched earlier this year, it attracted overwhelming support from the public and organisers constantly had to revise upwards their fund raising projections to €30,000, then to €50,000 and finally to €80,000.

The climb was eventually staggered over two days due to the unexpected clash with the All Ireland hurling final replay between Kilkenny and Galway.