Details of Longford GOAL mile events announced

A record number of Longford people are expected to take part in Ireland’s favourite festive fundraiser, the GOAL Mile, which takes place in 2 locations in Longford over the Christmas period.

Today, December 12, three Irish stars and GOAL ambassadors, Rugby international, Jenny Murphy, middle distance running champion, Ciara Mageean, and writer and Ross O’Carroll Kelly creator, Paul Howard, began their GOAL Mile warm-ups as they launched this year’s event in the iconic Irishtown Stadium in Dublin.

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Now in its 38th year, the GOAL Mile is one of Ireland’s largest and longest-running annual fundraising events and organisers revealed today that they are expecting a record number of people to take part this year. Last year, over €4,000 was raised for GOAL at this event in Longford. Organisers have emphasised that people just need to turn up on the day to take part, then choose to walk, run or jog the mile.

The GOAL Mile is steeped in tradition for people who build in a GOAL Mile as part of their Christmas routine and this year new GOAL Miles have been added around the country. For example, Ciara Mageean has set up a new GOAL Mile in her hometown of Portaferry, Co. Down to raise funds for GOAL’s work in 13 countries around the world.

Last year GOAL reached more than 5.5 million people in need, helped by the €250,000 raised from the 2018 GOAL Mile. GOAL’s work includes supporting those displaced by the ongoing conflict in Syria; running nutrition programmes saving the lives of infants under six months in refugee camps in Ethiopia and providing ongoing emergency response to thousands of people affected by Cyclone Ida in Zimbabwe.

Speaking at today’s GOAL Mile launch, Ciara Mageean said she is delighted to be out of the starting blocks ahead organising an event in her hometown. 

“The GOAL Mile is part and parcel of the Christmas season for people all over Ireland and I am so excited to bring that to my hometown this year. The combination of the Christmas spirit and the act of goodwill creates the best atmosphere and I urge people to join their local GOAL Mile this year. There is no better way to get Christmas Day started and to build up an appetite for the turkey – or to work off the eating excesses on the following Day!”

Irish international rugby star, Jenny Murphy, will also be doing a mile for GOAL this Christmas.

She noted, “I was privileged to visit Malawi in November where I witnessed the amazing work GOAL does first-hand and change the lives of those they reach.

"I urge people across Ireland to find their local Mile and donate what they can so GOAL can continue making life-altering interventions globally.”

Writer Paul Howard, aka Ross O’Carroll Kelly, said: “I never miss the GOAL Mile, Christmas would not be the same without it. There are so many wonderful things that define Christmas and the GOAL Mile is one of them for my family. I want people to find out where their nearest GOAL Mile is, take the time to head along and donate what they can to GOAL. Make this your new Christmas tradition – you’ll feel the better for it when you’re tucking into the Christmas pudding and selection boxes.”

GOAL’s Senior Development Manager, Alan Vard, said, “The GOAL Mile is a very special tradition for families and communities over the Christmas period. It is a lovely way for people to come together, have some exercise and fun and raise money for a great cause at the same time.

“Thanks to GOAL Mile organisers, millions of euros have been raised to support GOAL’s work in the developing world since the first Mile was staged in 1982. The beauty of the GOAL Mile is its simplicity. People don’t need to register in advance but simply show up to their nearest event, run or walk a Mile and contribute whatever they can afford to GOAL on the day.”

Also read: Get into the real spirit of Christmas at GOAL Mile

Longford GOAL Miles will take place in:

• Christmas Day: Longford Connolly Barracks, 12pm
• St. Stephen’s Day: Longford Church Hall/Grounds, 1pm