Irish humanitarian aid agency GOAL is launching this year’s hugely popular Christmas fundraiser, the GOAL Mile.

The event is open for people across Ireland and abroad, with registration now open at the GOAL website

The annual event sees people across the country gather over the Christmas holidays to run, jog or walk a mile in support of vulnerable communities across 14 countries where works take place in Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America.

Starting first in 1977, this year’s GOAL Mile is supported by AIB. This will be the first of a new three-year partnership, announced just last month.

This year marks the first time that both in-person and virtual events are taking place. This is following the move online due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Prior to the pandemic, over 170 Miles events were organized across Ireland. In 2019, approximately 50,000 people raised over €250,000.

GOAL’s Director of Fundraising and Marketing, Eamon Sharkey, sees the option of physical or virtual GOAL Miles as an opportunity to connect even more people with their communities, the Irish diaspora and GOAL’s work this Christmas.

“We are so excited to re-connect with people in-person this Christmas.”

“For many people, it will have been two years since they were last with family, friends, and neighbors, and we hope the GOAL Mile can play a part in bringing people together as we come out of such a challenging period.”

“Of course, there are many people around the world who still can’t be at home or take part in physical events this Christmas. That is why we are delighted to also be encouraging virtual GOAL Miles once again. Last year people from every corner of the world took part to make it a truly global event, and we would love to see that become a part of the longstanding tradition of the GOAL Mile.”

GOAL CEO Siobhan Walsh hopes to reach more communities throughout Ireland and across the globe with this year’s fundraiser.

“Hundreds of communities across Ireland already know and love the GOAL Mile,” said Ms. Walsh.

“They show incredible compassion for communities in need across the world that this event supports. GOAL helped more than 14 million people in Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America last year. We could not have achieved this without the continued support of the Irish people.”

AIB Chief Executive, Colin Hunt, said:

“At AIB we are committed to building a sustainable tomorrow by backing those who are building it today, and by supporting GOAL we are reaching those communities that are already suffering deeply from the impact of crises, poverty and climate change.“

To register for your local event or to arrange one at a new location, please visit GOAL’s official website.

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The event is in its 16th year and will be done in aid of Cancer Care West.

Last year, this annual event which would normally see 150 people crossing the bay in July saw hundreds of people across the world swimming 13km their own way.

2020’s reimagined swim raised a record-breaking €185,000 for the charity and this year the swimming format will follow the same suit, allowing people to get into the water over the course of the month of August to swim 13km.

“The swim is much more than a fundraiser; it’s the swimming highlight for so many swimmers across Ireland,” said Director of Cancer Care West Brian Thornton.

Since the swim began 15 years ago, 740 people have swam the Bay with swimmers around the world as far as Australia taking to the water for last year’s instalment of the event.

The format change allowed people, wherever they were in the world to take part in the Galway Bay Swim, and, if last year’s swim is anything to go by, that will happen again.

“It really brought a sense of achievement and purpose as well as support for Cancer Care West,” said Dave O’Donnell of Cancer Care West.

The money raised will help fund support services for cancer patients and their families through Cancer Care West’s support centres.

People are invited to swim 13km, which can be broken up throughout the whole month.

Swimmers are asked to raise €100 each for Cancer Care West this year and will receive a personalised Frances Thornton Memorial Galway Bay Swim Technical Tee.

All year round swimmer Paddy McNamara says ‘ this year it gives an opportunity to swimmers of all abilities to do something special for Cancer Care West. This challenge can be completed anywhere in the world so it would be great to see a local and international element to the event.”

To register for the event please log on to  www.galwaybayswim.com

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From weightlifting to dressage and sailing to pole vaulting, the pair will run, throw and jump their way through nearly 100 sports. They believe they are the first to attempt the impressive feat.

Charlotte is currently studying to become a doctor at the University of Bristol while Stuart has a full-time job as a window cleaner in Oxford.

Not only will the pair need to complete a triathlon, a 50km speed walk, a 10km swim (which takes the world’s best athletes two hours to complete), and a 240km road cycle, but also a full marathon.

Charlotte is a keen athlete, being a part of the Oxford-based GAA club Eire Óg. The pair have received a lot of support from the Mayo people and footballer Paddy Durcan.

This year marks 10 years since the passing of Stuart’s brother Spencer ‘Spenny’ Bates. The father of two tragically died, aged just 49, of motor neuron disease.

Charlotte and Stuart hope to raise £10,000 for the Motor Neurone Disease Association with their Olympic challenge, which they have dubbed the ‘Spennylympics’.

Charlotte, now finished her third year at Bristol, said:

“We’re terrified and excited at the same time. It’s been a real journey already: we’ve had to learn loads of new sports and we’ve met some amazing people along the way.

“The training has been tough, particularly fitting it around studying medicine. But there have been some incredible moments too, like sailing in Weymouth as the sun was setting.

“It has been a chance for us both to think about Spenny a lot too. When you’re feeling achy and tired and you don’t want to go out and train, having him in your mind really helps.”

Stuart & Charlotte (@spennylympics) are taking on every #Olympic event during the 17 days of @Tokyo2020! pic.twitter.com/O3orJvgJ2K

— BBC Radio Oxford (@BBCOxford) July 12, 2021

Starting on July 23, Charlotte and Stuart will have 17 days to complete the 96 sports. They will visit Reading to cycle on the velodrome, Bath for some of their track and field, and Bristol to surf at the Wave, a new inland surfing venue.

They will then travel to Weymouth, Spenny’s hometown, to go sailing and windsurfing. While there, on the penultimate day of the challenge they will play a football match with Spenny’s friends and family.

The final day will be the dreaded marathon.

Spenny was well-known in Weymouth for being a drummer in several bands. He is survived by his wife Nicky and two sons, Samuel and Isaac.

About Spencer, Stuart said: “He was many things to many people, a loyal and trusted friend, a completely devoted father and husband, and just the best company you could wish for.”

Thrilled that the amazing @IanMarsdenGB has joined us as a special ambassador. A Paralympic legend who is also living with a rare motor neurone condition, Ian is one of the most charismatic people we have encountered!

To donate visit https://t.co/nifRsVrb34 pic.twitter.com/z8bJKaGZcT

— spennylympics (@spennylympics) July 14, 2021

Despite their busy schedules, Stuart and Charlotte have managed to recruit more than 55 former and current Olympians to be ambassadors for the challenge. The pair are also being supported by Daniel Davey, an Irish performance-based nutrition specialist who works with Leinster rugby and Dublin GAA.

Dozens more have helped by offering lessons in everything from canoeing to rhythmic gymnastics.

Stuart and Charlotte now have just a few weeks of training before they are thrown into the biggest physical challenge of their lives. And the bit they are dreading the most?

“Diving 10 metres is pretty daunting, but I’ll make it happen!” said Charlotte

Stuart added: “Staying on the horse whilst show jumping is something giving me sleepless nights!”

To help Stuart and Charlotte toward their fundraising target visit their Just Giving page here.

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