Run in the Dark
Congratulations and a huge thank you to everyone who took part in the Run in the Dark Programme. This programme is an organized event that the Mark Pollock Foundation began in 2011, this charity specialises in paralysis research and development for people who have been majorly affected by paralysis. The run fuels Mark Pollock’s mission to cure paralysis in our lifetime. In case you don’t know Mark’s story: unbroken by blindness in 1998, Mark was the first blind person to race to the South Pole. Now, after a catastrophic spinal cord injury in 2010, he is on a new expedition to cure paralysis in our lifetime. The foundation reached out to over 150 secondary schools including St Aidan’s and urged them to donate €10 per person and encourage the donor to run 5 or 10km. Within 2 months, the combined effort of the school staff and students raised a substantial €2700 among 290 people that took part in the run.
You may be asking what was the organisation of this massive event like, it was an easy task as the TY enterprise groups, Active Schools and the GAA Future Leaders, helped majorly in accomplishing this feat. The enterprise groups completed a variety of tasks including money collection, surveying and testing adequate walking paths, even the entirety of TY helped with marshalling and recording on the day of the run itself. The organisation was obviously organised by teacher administrators: Ms English and Mr Farrell. These brilliant teachers sturdily organised the event and controlled the situation as to assure there was no misbehaving on the day.
On the 17th of November 2021, people patiently waited for the event to begin. Over 255 walked and ran 5k while over 35 people dashed through the 10k, it was a very impressive site to see. The walk ways were watched over by marshals who were TY students that volunteered to help with the event along with the local Garda forces to ensure we crossed the busy road safely. Mr Mayne, our unofficial school photographer, also took pictures of passer-by's chatting and laughing with each other. The overall atmosphere, tone and mood of the event was energetic and happy. When the participants returned from their exhausting feat, they were offered food and drink from our fantastic lunch ladies and more student helpers. This run was a good opportunity to build confidence and self-esteem while also promoting exercise and adapting a healthier lifestyle. This school wishes for this to become an annual school event, once again well done to all involved.
You may be asking what was the organisation of this massive event like, it was an easy task as the TY enterprise groups, Active Schools and the GAA Future Leaders, helped majorly in accomplishing this feat. The enterprise groups completed a variety of tasks including money collection, surveying and testing adequate walking paths, even the entirety of TY helped with marshalling and recording on the day of the run itself. The organisation was obviously organised by teacher administrators: Ms English and Mr Farrell. These brilliant teachers sturdily organised the event and controlled the situation as to assure there was no misbehaving on the day.
On the 17th of November 2021, people patiently waited for the event to begin. Over 255 walked and ran 5k while over 35 people dashed through the 10k, it was a very impressive site to see. The walk ways were watched over by marshals who were TY students that volunteered to help with the event along with the local Garda forces to ensure we crossed the busy road safely. Mr Mayne, our unofficial school photographer, also took pictures of passer-by's chatting and laughing with each other. The overall atmosphere, tone and mood of the event was energetic and happy. When the participants returned from their exhausting feat, they were offered food and drink from our fantastic lunch ladies and more student helpers. This run was a good opportunity to build confidence and self-esteem while also promoting exercise and adapting a healthier lifestyle. This school wishes for this to become an annual school event, once again well done to all involved.