Mud everywhere – Runamuck complete

My clothes had so much mud and gravel in them I blocked the filter in the washing machine!

Runamuck lulled us into a false sense of security with the start – over hay bales and running through fields. “Ah sure how can this get muddy?”

Oops.

We didn’t realise about a third of the course isn’t running but wading – through rivers and mud. And then they like to make sure you’re well covered with a few slides – yes you guessed it into mud. I was really fortunate a couple of times and found a pothole, going in up to my neck.

With cargo nets, tyres everywhere and sections of run that in the mud underfoot made you feel like every step was a slide I did end up covered head to toe – as you can see!

It was great fun and we will be back next year – hopefully with more of you joining in too.

We also didn’t register just how big an event it is – 4000 people!

I was running to help raise money for RISE – an Innovista initiative to equip teenagers in inner city Dublin to be sources of hope in their communities. I’m really thankful for the generosity of everyone who sponsored me – I’ve almost reached my target of €500. If you’d like to help me get over the fundraising finish line you can do so by clicking here (or here via Justgiving, making use of Gift Aid if you are a UK tax payer)

Before the mud…

Last obtacle before the finish line

Helping hand over the slippy hay bales

Almost there!

Finished

We only lost one…

Team Innovista’s fastest finisher

“Yes I face-planted”

The ‘showers’

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Coming up – 10km of obstacles and muck

This time next week, with 7 others I’m taking on the mud and obstacles of Runamuck. Will you help get me over the finish line by sponsoring me? (click here if you’re a UK taxpayer as we can reclaim tax through Justgiving)

We’re running/jumping/wading and whatever else is involved to raise money for RISE.

RISE is an Innovista leadership programme which equips teenagers (particularly from tough inner city environments)  to be sources of hope in their community. As part of RISE they will come up with and carry out a project that will create positive change in their local community.

RISE is currently running with an inner city girls school’s transition year class and a church youth group in Dublin 8. In the next few weeks, two more groups will be starting with community youth groups in Ballymun and Inchicore. We’re really excited by the potential of RISE to inspire and equip teenagers. You can read about the first school pilot of RISE here.

We’re working with schools and inner city community groups who are doing incredible work on a shoestring. It costs us €50 for each teenager to participate in RISE. I’d love to raise €500 by completing Runamuck.

If you would like to help me reach that target click here to go to my sponsor.ie page.

(If you are in the UK you can give tax-efficiently through my Justgiving page.

Thanks!

Changing the trajectory of teenagers’ lives – the 2011 Innovista Challenge

In less than 48 hours time myself and two friends will be hitting the hills and waterways of West Cork for the 2011 Innovista Challenge.

We’ll be:

cycling 25km
running 8km and
kayaking 1.5km
(on what is looking like being a cold October morning)

The time for training has passed. The emergency whistle has been purchased and bike serviced.  Now time to start praying we make it to the finish line in one piece. And of course one other vital way you can help us make it across the finish line in Skibbereen is to sponsor us!

But first why, on a cold October morning are we putting our bodies through such pain?

Robbie* is a teenager from inner city Dublin. He lives in a community where drug and alcohol abuse is rife and the best paying job prospect for young males is as a drug dealer.

Alcoholism and a parent in prison have devastated Robbie’s family life. It is no surprise that he has dropped out of school early and has a police record for violent behaviour. Today his future has ‘prison’ written all over it.

But it doesn’t have to be that way.

Robbie is intelligent, talented and influential. He has incredible potential. Imagine if he used that potential to influence his peers for good, to bring change in his community. Robbie could be a future leader.

To do that he needs people around him who will invest deeply in him; who will show him that another way is possible; who will encourage him and cheer him on; who will do what most of us would consider normal.

Future Leaders is an initiative created for young people like Robbie. We want to break the cycle of hopelessness and despair and help him experience that change is possible. We want to equip Robbie and his peers with the skills, courage and character to be leaders who change their own lives and transform their communities.

Robbie is part of the Future Leaders pilot programme that’s being delivered by Innovista Ireland and a local church.

There are hundreds of teenagers like Robbie who can become future leaders. Your support will enable us to expand the programme, giving more young people their much needed opportunity to see that there is a better way and become part of the change that’s needed where they are.

That’s why we’re doing the challenge. Please give whatever you can …here’s how:

If you live in Ireland  (or anywhere else, and are not a UK taxpayer) click here to give via sponsor.ie

If you are a taxpayer in Northern Ireland or the rest of the UK  click here to give via JustGiving (which enables us to claim tax relief on your gift)

You can also support us in the challenge by sharing this page and encouraging your friends to get on board.

Thanks!

*Name changed for privacy reasons