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Camlough man Pat McGinn is preparing to take on the London Marathon next month, continuing a fundraising journey that began after he overcame serious illness. His fundraiser starts in earnest this Saturday in the village where he will be holding a bucket collection for the hospice.
McGinn will be among close to 57,000 runners taking part in the 26-mile London Marathon on Sunday 26 April, running in support of Evora Hospice. McGinn who turned to running and cycling as a way of raising money for charity following his recovery from cancer and a life-threatening bout of sepsis after surgery, completed his first marathon at 60 and has continued to push himself ever since.
Ahead of the London race, he and a team of volunteers will be at the roundabout in Camlough village this Easter Saturday for a fundraising bucket collection. "Our team will be in the village collecting on Saturday. People are always very generous, please drive carefully and say hello as you pass," he said.
Reflecting on what has driven him to take on endurance events in his later years, McGinn said: "After recovering from illness, I decided to do things I never thought possible, marathons, half marathons and long-distance cycles. I completed my first marathon at 60, and now, as I reach the latter end of my sixties, I still have the enthusiasm to keep going and raise a few pounds for the charities I support."
He added: "I feel blessed to have the health and wellbeing to take on what for me are gruelling endurance tests. I'd like to think, in a small way, I can encourage people my age to do what Clint Eastwood advised when queries about getting older ' don't let the old man (or indeed woman) in'."
Pat also spoke about the work carried out by the hospice, which serves communities across the Southern Trust area. "The hospice is a charity, and all its services are provided free of charge to people living with complex, life-limiting conditions, regardless of diagnosis or where they receive care," he said. "It supports patients and families across the Southern Trust area, from Kilkeel to Ballygawley and from Crossmaglen to Portadown. Each year, it cares for almost 1,000 patients, with over 80% of income going directly towards patient care."
He added that the organisation depends greatly on local goodwill: "The hospice relies heavily on the generosity of local communities and the support of more than 250 volunteers."
