PICTURES | Longford Operation Transformation event raises €52,000 for families of two Kiernan Steel employees battling illness

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Award winning Longford company Kiernan Steel recently organised an Operation Transformation fundraiser for two of their employees - Peter Gorman who works on site and Mark McCrann who works in the workshop.

Both have family members that are receiving treatment for serious illness. Peter’s wife Joan suffered a brain tumour and the Laois couple, from Rosenallis, are proud parents to four children. Mark McCrann’s daughter Michaela is only three years old and she is battling an aggressive form of Leukaemia. READ MORE BELOW PHOTO

The McCrann family are from Cloone, Co Leitrim and Mark, accompanied by his wife Frances, and their children Michaela and Rian, were recently presented with a cheque for €26,143.98 by Frank and Dolores Kiernan. A cheque for the same amount was also presented to the Gorman family.

Thirty-five Kiernan Steel employees took part in the Operation Transformation six week challenge and they organised events daily for all participants, including walking, running, swimming and spinning and everyone put in a tremendous effort.

On Saturday, March 4, The Mall (Albert Reynolds Peace Park), Longford town was the venue for the Kiernan Steel Operation Transformation 5k in conjunction with Longford parkrun and a huge crowd participated in what was a brilliant morning, including four of the five RTÉ Operation Transformation leaders, namely, Stephanie Bowden, Granard's own Thomas Hynes, Andrea Daly and Lorraine Dempsey.

The grand finale of the Kiernan Steel Operation Transformation fundraiser was held in the Longford Arms Hotel on Friday, March 10.

With Gerry Hagan and Paul Gilna as MCs for the occasion, all leaders took to the stage to show off their new healthier waistlines. The total weight loss over the six weeks was an incredible thirty-one stone between all of the leaders.

Thanks to the Operation Transformation fundraiser, and the help of Director Frank Kiernan, a total of €52,287.96 was raised for the Gorman and McCrann families.

It is hoped this will help both families with some of the financial burden they may face in the future and everyone wishes both families well.

All of the staff of Kiernan Steel, Killoe would like to thank everyone that sponsored the leaders and donated spot prizes on the night and everyone who helped organise and plan the events.