Aengus Burke to run 60km over two days to raise funds for Spinal Injuries Ireland

On the first weekend in November Aengus Burke plans to run 60km to raise funds for Spinal Injuries Ireland, a charity close to his heart. The reason for running 60km is because Aengus will celebrate his 60th birthday on Tuesday 5 November.

“I tried to stop the clock but with no success,” jokes Aengus.

On Saturday 2 November, he will set off on a 20km, well nearer 21km, loop from Glenbarrow cark park in the Slieve Blooms, heading up by the Iron Man. All the route is on the trail road. He will start this phase of his exploit at 10am.

“The simple reason for the venue is that it is my favourites over the years,” says Aengus. “It is a good training challenge with some wildlife and lovely scenery for good measure.” The remaining 40km run is being undertaken for a different reason.

“On the 25th November 1984 I had a car crash damaging my spine to the extent that my spinal chord was hanging by a thread. If it had snapped, I would have been paralysed from my neck down,” explains Aengus.

“As a result I spent five months in the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dun Laoghaire, four of those months confined to bed. Luck is probably not the right word, but I made a full recovery, hence over the years I have raised funds for Spinal Injuries Ireland who do tremendous work for people with spinal injuries. To say a spinal injury is life changing is an understatement. Both physically and mentally it is devastating.

“It can result from a serious car crash to a simple fall, sport or horseplay. The consequences are always the same.” So, on Sunday 3 November, at 9am, Aengus will start a 40km run from Rossleighan Park, the home of Portlaoise AFC on the Mountmellick Road. He will head to the running track at Portlaoise College, home of Portlaoise AC where he will do a lap of the track before heading back to Rossleighan Park for a lap of the pitches, a loop of approximately 6km. He will repeat this loop six times coming around approximately every 30 minutes, finishing off the 40km at Rossleighan at 12.15pm approximately.

“The reason for this loop, “ says Aengus, “is that both clubs have been a big part of my life for the past 42 years or so, with some great friends and memories made.” On both days, Aengus will have a little boom of his memoirs for sale recounting some memories over the years, from family, work, education, sport, happy times and sad times. All profits will got to Spinal Injuries Ireland.

Spinal Injuries Ireland are fully behind Aengus in his efforts and sent the following message_ “We are all cheering for Aengus and wishing him the best during his two runs. We are blown away by his determination to take on this challenge and support people with spinal cord injuries across Ireland.

“As a charity we support people from the moment they are injured for as long as they need us with help, advice, grant support and free counselling service along with accessible activities and adventures. We would not be able to empower our service users without people like Aengus going above and beyond.” In the accompanying photograph, Aengus is pictured with Robert Kenny. They were both patients in the NHR in ‘84/’85.

“Robert has shown tremendous resilience to overcome his injury and is currently the fundraiser for Spinal Injuries Ireland,” says Aengus. “I am glad to say he will down on Sunday to lend us his support.”