Newry Mourne and Down Council lights up RED for NI Chest Heart & Stroke
Leading local health charity Northern Ireland Chest Heart and Stroke will be lighting the town red this February to mark National Heart Month and the charity’s annual Red Dress Fun Run.
The Red Dress Fun Run, proudly supported by MACE, is the charity’ a five kilometre run or walk event which aims to raise funds and awareness for heart disease. The event coincides with National Heart Month in February, when NICHS encourage people to think about their cardiovascular health and the steps they can take towards a healthier, stronger heart, such as eating healthily and getting active.
Newry, Mourne and Down Council showed their support for the charity by lighting up civic buildings in red (NICHS’s signature colour) on Tuesday 1st February.
The Chairperson of Newry Mourne and Down District Council, Councillor Cathy Mason, said: “I am delighted to light up both Newry Town Hall and Down Leisure Centre red on Tuesday 1 February 2022.to mark National Heart Month. Northern Ireland Chest, Heart and Stroke provide vital services on a day and daily basis to the residents of our District.
“I would encourage all citizens across Newry, Mourne and Down to support NICHS’s Annual Red Dress Run to be held on 27 February 2022 to raise vital funds and raise awareness of the danger of heart disease.”
Last year, the Red Dress Fun Run went virtual due to COVID-19 restrictions, with hundreds of participants taking part in their local area raising vital funds to combat heart disease.
This year, the event returns to its home venue of Stormont Estate, however the virtual element remains with the charity encouraging participants who cannot make it to the main event to complete 5K their way during the month of February.
Jackie Trainor, Director of Income Generation at NICHS said; “We are so grateful for the support of Councillor Cathy Mason as we look forward to the Red Dress Fun Run 2022. Today, there are over 335,000 people living with a chest, heart or stroke condition in Northern Ireland – many of these people will live in the Newry, Mourne and Down area.
“NICHS has been by the side of the local community since 1946 and we hope local people will join us at the Red Dress Fun Run 2022 to show their support for our work in our special 75th anniversary year.”
Jackie is urging family members of every generation, age and ability to sign up to the event saying; “Please support us by running, walking, dancing, skipping or wheeling 5K with us on Sunday 27th February at 11am at Stormont Estate, or, if you can’t make the live event you can do 5K your way any day, or days, in February. Everyone is welcome to come along and join in the fun – even the family pooch!”
The charity is also inviting primary school pupils to join in the fun by hosting their own fun run anytime this February, with participating schools receiving a certificate of thanks and prizes up for grabs.
If you have been inspired to step up to the challenge you can sign up to the Red Dress Fun Run at:
You can find out more about getting your primary school involved at:
