28th June 2004
There I was as usual participating in the 10 kilometre Women's Mini Marathon which takes place every year on the June Bank Holiday Monday. Forty thousand women running, jogging and walking in high good humour. And there I was in high good humour too, jumping up and down and clapping and cheering at the barrier at the end of Burlington Road, just in sight of the nine kilometre mark.
Catriona McKiernan came flying past at least fifteen lengths ahead of the field if we were talking about horses. It had been a very sunny morning but the clouds had come across after lunch so that the day was a little cooler. I doubt, however, if Catriona had got up even a light sweat on her run of 32 minutes and some seconds, she seemed to be so much at ease.
At the barrier with me were some men who knew all the rest of the runners and cheered them on with "Go on Jean, go on Joanne, go on Emer, 9k mark just up the road" as these incredible young women went flying by. They and all who came in the next half an hour all seemed so fit and slim that I wondered why we were so worried about obesity. Indeed, there was one girl with some of the front runners who looked to me as though she had anorexia.
When the slower people came I began to worry about the unfit "runners". I wasn't so concerned about those who were red in the face as about the ones who were ashen. My fears for them was not helped by one of my friends at the barrier telling me a woman had died during the event a few years ago but I can't vouch for the accuracy of his information.
Then we had the walkers striding out, the front ones determined to make good time even though some were as grey haired as myself or whose hair would have been if it wasn't for a bit of assistance. Then the slower ones and here, despite higher than the recommended BMI's in many cases, they were determined to do their best too.
And for what were they doing their best? In almost all cases it was not for themselves but for the widest variety of charities from all over Ireland.
Millions of euro will have been raised for the most worthy of causes but regarding some of them it is so shame making for the rest of us that hospitals, for example, should need to appeal to our charity for what should be a properly funded health service. Beaumont, Peamount, Temple Street, Crumlin, Portiuncula, Galway, St. James and Tallaght I saw represented and probably I missed a few. Surely such important institutions should not be so strapped for money that they need to ask for funds thus?
Hospices are not long established in many parts of the country and here were women running to get money for the marvellous people who run them. Our Lady's, Harold's Cross, St. Francis', Westmeath, North East, Tipperary, Waterford, all benefited greatly I hope.
Nearly every organ was represented in the charities too. Kidney Association, Diabetes Federation, Motor Neurone Disease, Muscular Dystrophy, Parkinson's Disease, Alzheimer's, Raynaud's and Scleroderma, Post Polio, Cystic Fibrosis, Heart Foundation had numerous supporters. As had Aware, Asperger's and Down Syndrome. I was also delighted to see that some girls with Down Syndrome were amongst the walkers, striding along.
The Carers' Association was there and some had brought those they looked after, for example from St. Michael's House. Also a charity which is not so old DEBRA, appealing for funds to help research and treatment in Epidermolysis Bublosa, with a child in a wheelchair who I think probably had this distressing problem where the skin is so fragile even the lightest touch causes damage.
Cancer charities were very visible, breast research and care, Leukaemia, Marie Keating. The Blind Council and "Ann Sullivan" for the deaf/blind were there and funds for guide dogs were sought, too. Those wearing Specsavers shirts were advising people to mind their sight and I presume any money raised did not go to that estimable and profitable business!
Rape Crisis Centres in Dublin, Cork and Limerick are there every year as is Oxfam, Romanian orphanages, Chernobyl children, the Samaritans and Simon Community. But some were newer - Christina Noble and Laura Lynn. And some were for small individual ventures like the Cottage Home in Dun Laoghaire.
Every now and then some large nuns or fairies or fashionably dressed but hairy legged women flew past. Some had enormous breasts with which they were having great trouble. I suspect they were men. One of them came up to me and hugged me shouting "Mother, mother". He, I am sure, was a man despite his pink tutu.
As well as the marvellous money raised the whole event gave great joy to those who took part. It even gave me a feeling of achievement because as walkers passed me I continued my jumping up and down and cheering. I met so many friends I felt I had done something myself.
Senator Mary Henry, MD
