Run or walk in Ballygar on May 5th and 11th for three great causes — run in daylight; walk out of the darkness into the light

By JIM CARNEY A UNIQUE, two-strand approach to raise funds for deserving charities will take place in Ballygar during the month of May â€â€ in support of Cancer Care West, the Galway Hospice Foundation and the Irish Cancer Society. In 2010, Gerard Kelly, then Principal Teacher at Swords, Co. Dublin Educate Together National School, was organising a â€ËœRun For The Cureâ€Â in his school and he felt that a similar event in Ballygar would capture the imagination and goodwill of this very supportive community. A small, five-member committee was formed and two months later people gathered in their hundreds after Sunday morning Mass on May 2nd, 2010 â€â€ men and women of all ages and ambulatory ability â€â€ and walked in support, in solidarity and with empathy for all persons and families affected by cancer.[private] The defining characteristics of that first Run / Walk For The Cure were hope, courage and determination. Men and women pushed buggies, cupped younger childrenâ€â„¢s hands in their own and ran or walked with heart and commitment. It was a triumph for a small rural town in North-East Galway.  The Ballygar group are organising their Run For the Cure again this year, on Sunday week, May 5th, starting outside St Maryâ€â„¢s Church, Ballygar at 11:30 a.m. In conjunction, there will also be a Darkness into Light Walk on Saturday morning, May 11th, starting in Ballygar Square at 4:00 a.m. Says a Committee member: â€Å“With Pieta House opening its centre in Bishop Street, Tuam this summer it felt right to invite all interested people to join us on May 11th at we start our 5Km walk in darkness and finish it as the sun comes up. Both runs / walks are open to everyone, from near and far! They are invited to Ballygar to join the Walks of Hope. The Ballygar Darkness into Light Walk on May 11th will support Pieta House, Centre for the Prevention of Self-Harm and Suicide. For the walks and run, everyone who possibly can is strongly urged to participate in both or either event. No registration fee for either event â€â€œ donations only, and sponsorship cards are in circulation. There is also a Bag-Packing fundraiser at Centra, Ballygar on Friday and Saturday, May 3rd and 4th. Local people are encouraged to come along and let somebody else pack their shopping! For further info, check out Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ballygarrun.forthecure and see updates in the Ballygar Parish Newsletter. â€Â¢ Organising Committee: Mary Kelly (Kennyâ€â„¢s Pub), Mary Oâ€â„¢Donnell (Kilkerrin), Doireann Gilmore (Ballygar), Peter Daly (Ballygar), Nonie Gerarghty (Kilmore), ÃÂine Oâ€â„¢Hara Healy (Kilmore), Gerard Kelly (Kilmore). [/private]