Sporting heroes help launch Walk 4 Wellness initiative in Limerick village

A NEW initiative has been launched at the Manor Fields in Adare to bring together the local community for a Walk 4 Wellness challenge which will take place over the coming weeks.

The initiative will also act as a fundraiser to enable the further development of the 25-acre “open to all" area which is located just outside the village.

As part of the challenge, which runs until Saturday, February 11, local residents, members of the business community and voluntary groups have been asked to collectively commit to the activity of walking 13 laps of the community-owned Manor Fields walking track each week.

Participants also have the option of setting their own personal targets and local school pupils have can get in on the fun by walking 15 minutes per day, to reach the goal.

Those who complete the challenge will each be presented with a special certificate by Adare and Limerick camogie superstar Caoimhe Costello and Limerick captain and Adare hurling hero Declan Hannon.

The Manor Fields are located on a 25-acre site which was donated to the Adare community in 2007 by the Kane family, former owners of prestigious Adare Manor.

To date, €3.1 million was put into the lands over three phases to make it an all-age, all-ability recreational facility.

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With over 80,000 people travelling to the greenfield site each year from the surrounding communities and counties, James Collins, volunteer chairman of The Manor Fields, says he's excited about the planned improvements.

“We have great plans for the future, all of which require the ongoing support of the community to achieve. These include the
development of floodlit tennis facilities, a multi-sport ball wall, additional grass playing spaces and recreational walking paths, a six lane bowling pitch, additional car parking and landscaping.”

Those from the area are being encouraged to use the challenge not just as a way of increasing daily physical activity, but also to help to raise funds to support the development of the amenity through sponsorship from family, friends and colleagues.

In addition to the Walk 4 Wellness challenge, a calendar of events will be rolled out over the next few weeks featuring guest speakers and specialists who will talk about a range of wellness-related topics.