Leitrim brothers in 300k run to raise funds for PIPS

Leitrim brothers in 300k run to raise funds for PIPS

13 May 2020

THREE brothers will run 300 kilometres – that’s over 180 miles – between them this week to raise money for a local mental health charity.

Gerard (29), Barry (24) and 19 year-old Conor McAnulty have so far raised nearly £3,000 for the charity, PIPS Hope and Support, which provides support and services in the Newry and Mourne area.

The men started off their challenge on Monday with a near 15-mile run from their Leitrim family home to Castlewellan, where they ran several times around the lake before returning home.

They also plan to run to Dromara, Dundrum, back to Castlewellan and around Leitrim over the five-day challenge.

The brothers aim to make it back to the family’s fitness and martial arts school, Kazoku Karate, in Main Street in Castlewellan for their last leg on Friday.

Cycling beside them all the way will be their 52 year-old father, Gerard senior, who runs the studio with eldest son Gerard.

Instead of wearing normal running shorts, the brothers have been going the extra mile by wearing karate gear along the way.

All highly trained martial arts experts – Barry and Connor are black belt 1st Dans while Gerard is a black belt 3rd Dan – the brothers wanted to do something positive for others during the coronavirus lockdown.

Gerard explained: “I had noticed that the DJ Paul McArdle, also from Castlewellan, had raised a great amount of money for MYMY and I thought it was something that I would like to do and my brothers could help me too.

“One of my students, Cahir Clancy, suggested the charity, PIPS Hope and Support, which he was involved with and we thought that was a great choice. I have always been involved in fitness and I’ve ways been a big believer in how a healthy body can help with a healthy mind. I initially thought of a target of £1,500 but we are already well past that and I can’t thank everyone enough who has supported the challenge.”

Gerard first got into the sport at the age of 12 due to his father’s interest love of martial arts and maintained his interest alongside his GAA career. He and his brothers played for the local club, Laitroim Fontenoys, while he also played on the Down senior panel for five years. Youngest brother, Conor, a former St Malachy’s High School student, has also played for the county U-20 panel.

Gerard is planning to add to the final total by organising an Ultimate Sports Raffle at the end of the month.

“Every £5 donated in your name automatically means an entry into the draw so if you donated £20, you are entered four time,” explained Gerard.

“I have already managed to get a fantastic selection of signed sports jerseys, including 20 from the 32 GAA county teams in Ireland and I also hope to get signed jerseys from top clubs in London and New York, and also an Aussie rules football team.”

He has also managed to get a signed Celtic football shirt and signed Leeds United and Ulster Rugby tops for the raffle.

However, Gerard, a former IKU world karate champion, is saving his top prize so far – a signed Conor McGregor Ultimate Fighting Championship glove – for a special auction.

He will announce further details of his raffle and action on his Facebook page and hopes to restart his karate lessons for his 150 local young students when it is safe to reopen his club.

To donate to the McAnulty brother’s 300km running challenge, please visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/fight-the-stigma.