A group of six Downpatrick RGU members and supporters are planning to run the 28.2 mile Dublin marathon for young Hollie English.
And they are doing it the hard way! Not as a relay team but each will run the full distance on 28 October in Dublin.
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Running in the Dublin Marathon for the Down Syndrome Association are Karen and Damien Curran, JR Lowden, Barry Gracey, Judith Curran and Joan Gracey.[/caption]
Hollie, their niece, suffers from Downs Syndrome and her birthday is coincidentally  on the same day as the marathon. The team will be planning to give her a great birthday present by making a donation to their cause… the  Downs Syndrome Association.
The team – Karen and Damien Curran, JR and Judith Lowden, with Barry and Joan Gracey – are now well into their training regime and have been jogging  the roads around Downpatrick for several months already in preparation.
JR Lowden said: ‘This is the first time we have taken on a marathon like this but we are all up for it. It is such a great cause. It is on Hollie’s birthday so it will give us all an extra incentive to cross the finishing line.
“It is a daunting task but we have all been training well since April to get into shape. We run three times a week. We need to rest after a long run like that and recuperate then build up again. At the moment we are managing 15-16 miles ok. The rest will be a real challenge but we will do it. We are very focussed. Let’s just hope the weather is kind to us on the big day.”
JR added: ‘We are also organising a fundraising evening at the Downpatrick RGU clubrooms/ It will run from 8pm til late on the 4 October. There will be a band, disco, raffle and plenty of craic. I hope we get a large crowd there. There has been a huge amount of interest so far so it will be a great night of entertainment.”
“There will be entertainment and loads of prizes to be won. So everyone is very welcome. You can just make a donation at the door and buy some ballots. Hope to see lots of you there.”
Check out the NI Down Syndrome Association at: Down Syndrome Association
If you want to sponsor the runners from Downpatrick, Â you can contact JR Lowden’s team by messaging on his Facebook page at:
https://www.facebook.com/jr.loudon
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