TWO Fermanagh residents said they were “overwhelmed by the incredible generosity” of the community after they took part in the hugely challenging London Marathon to raise money for local charities.
Well-known and hugely-popular Belcoo resident, Tony McGourty, and his niece Kathryn Walls, recently were part of the 53,000-plus runners who completed the 26.2 miles marathon in London.
The pair joined forces to raise money in memory of the late Eithne Walls, who died tragically in 2009, and the late Mary Walls, who passed away following a long battle with dementia.
Ms Walls from Down, who has strong links to Belcoo, died tragically in 2009 when an Air France plane carrying 228 passengers, crashed into the Atlantic.
The duo also teamed up to run the London Marathon in memory of the late Mary Walls, a hugely respected member of the Belcoo community, who passed away in 2020.
The runners raised a staggering £15,000 from their fundraising run, with the proceeds split between ‘Dementia NI’ and the ‘Dublin Eye Hospital’, where Ms Walls worked as a doctor before her death in 2009.
“We’ve both spent a lot of time in the past 15 years combining our love of running with a mission to give back,” Kathryn Walls said in the ‘GiveWheel’ fundraising page.
“Tony [McGourty] is a dedicated marathon runner with a passion for making a difference. He has completed 24 marathons in 15 years, raising thousands of pounds for charity.
“I started running only after we lost my sister, Eithne, in the Air France plane crash in 2009 and have a more modest six marathons completed, also raising vital funds for charity over the years.”
“We are overwhelmed by the incredible generosity shown by people across the county and beyond, helping us raise an astonishing £15,000,” said Ms Walls.
“This amount has been equally shared between Dementia NI and the Dublin Eye Hospital, where Eithne [Walls] dedicated her career as a doctor.
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