Galway Bay 10 celebrates its fifth birthday with over 1000 people taking part in last Saturday’s run/walk.

Cancer Care West was the clear winner of the day as over 1000 athletes took part in the 2007 Galway Bay 10 mile run/walk sponsored by www.galwaynews.ie and Arrabawn Co-op. In its first four years, the Galway Bay 10 has attracted almost 4,000 participants and raised €1.2 million for Cancer Care West. This year the target is to raise a further €250,000 for the charity, and the development of cancer support services in the West of Ireland.
Each aid station will be controlled by Civil Defence volunteers who have first aid training. Please report all accidents and emergencies to any Civil Defence Volunteer who will notify one of our Race Doctors.

The ten mile run and walk was supported by athletes of all standards including over one hundred trainee Gardai from Templemore, hundreds of bank officials from the city and county, many corporate and family teams, as well as cancer patients, recovering cancer patients and their families & friends.

The Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists were on hand after the race to provide a very welcome massage for weary athletes in the marquee kindly donated by the Galway International Oyster Festival for use as the post-race venue where participants were able to relax and enjoy music, entertainment and light refreshments.

Bernard Duffy, Chairperson of Galway Bay 10 said “I would like to congratulate all of today’s athletes on their efforts and to thank each and every one for raising such a fantastic amount for Cancer Care West. I would like to pay tribute to all of those who made today possible including the race organisers and medical teams and all of the volunteers who guaranteed the race’s success.

David Hickey, Chief Executive of the Connacht Tribune stated, “www.galwaynews.ie is immensely proud to be associated with today’s event which will raise much needed funding to continue Cancer Care West’s fantastic work. I would like to congratulate all of those involved in today’s race for ensuring the successful and safe running of this mammoth event and to thank all who sponsored the participants – it is great to see so many people willing to provide much needed funds for a great cause.”

All of the participants in the 2007 Galway Bay 10 race were asked to raise funds through individual sponsorship and donations to help Cancer Care West continue the development of cancer support services in the West of Ireland. In March this year, Cancer Care West opened Inis Aoibhinn, residence and cancer support centre, on the grounds of University College Hospital Galway. Inis Aoibhinn provides residential accommodation for patients travelling to Galway for radiotherapy treatment and comprises 30 en-suite bedrooms with facilities available for patients’ partners or guests to share. It also provides a cancer support centre for anyone affected by cancer, offering a range of psychological counselling services, courses such a stress management, coping with a cancer diagnosis and complementary therapies.

www.galwaynews.ie is a joint venture between the Connacht Tribune and Galway Bay FM which provides daily news from Galway direct from the newsroom of Galway Bay FM together with analysis and reviews from The Connacht Tribune, The Galway City Tribune and The Sentinel.

If you would like to make a donation to the Galway Bay 10, or for further information regarding Cancer Care West’s fundraising activities, please contact Sharon Fitzpatrick at 091 529609, email Sharon@cancercarewest.ie

For further information please contact:
Casilda Lydon
Cancer Care West
Ph: 091 542216
E: casilda.lydon@hse.ie