14 June 2016
By Bryan Smyth
bryan@TheCork.ie
The annual charity ‘Climb to Remember’ takes place on Sunday, June 26th and will see people from all over Munster rise to the challenge of climbing The Galtee Mountains, in memory of a loved one, with funds raised going towards The Mercy Hospital Foundation.
Proceeds raised at this year’s ‘Climb to Remember’ will benefit both the Mercy Heart Appeal and Mercy Cancer Appeal, enhancing cardiology and cancer services at The Mercy University Hospital, which serves patients from all over Munster.
Pre-event registration is essential, and participants can sign up at www.mercyfundraising.ie. Sign-in will take place at Kings Yard from 9am till 9.45am. At 10am sharp participants will begin their climb from Kings Yard to the summit of the Galtee Mountains. The climb will take around 3 – 5 hours including a break.
Starting at the car park, participants will follow a good, unsurfaced road passing several deserted homesteads. To the east, the two peaks of Seefin will be visible, with Knockeenatoung rising behind to the northeast. Hikers will head onto the open mountain to the plateau which is Knocknagalty, and rising majestically ahead is Galtymore, Ireland’s highest inland peak at 919m. From the wall end, hikers will head in an easterly direction to the top of Galtymore, where they will be treated to spectacular views of the Galtees Range, the Knockmealdowns, Comeragh Mountain Ranges, and the surrounding valleys.
Tim Higgins, who previously participated in the Climb to Remember in The Galtees said “I did the climb in honour of my father in law John Hegarty, who passed away in March 2013 from cancer. John was the greatest man I have ever had the privilege of knowing, he lived for his family and especially his grandchildren. He was well up to speed on a variety of subjects from Peppa Pig and Iron Man to his favourite team, Tottenham Hotspurs, Cork City and Corks hurling and football teams. His absence is still raw, and is sure to be for a long time to come. I’d like to thank the Mercy Hospital Foundation for the opportunity to remember John in this way; I’m sure he and all those who left all of the climbers had something to do with the glorious day we had for the climb.“
Deirdre Finn, Community & Events Fundraiser at the Mercy Hospital Foundation said “Our mission is to inspire people to support advancements in research, diagnosis, treatments and care of patients at The Mercy University Hospital, the People’s Hospital. We promise to do our very best to provide you with a world class hospital, right on your doorstep, and this is only possible through the help of our supporters and donors like those who step up to the mark, and ‘Climb to Remember’ year after year.”
The registration fee for the Galtees ‘Climb to Remember’ on June 26th is €25, and it is open to anyone over 16 years of age. Those interested must register by logging onto www.mercyfundraising.ie or calling (021) 4274076. Please note that registration will NOT be available on the morning of the event.
