Pals of tragic Kilkenny teen run 1,000km to raise €25,000 for mental health charity
A group of young men who set out to honour their friend who tragically died last year have just completed 1,000kms of combined running.
The 10 students from Carrick-on-Suir’s Edmund Rice Secondary School have raised close to €25,000 in their ‘Run4Rian’ challenge, with all monies raised going to Pieta house.
The group of friends hail from counties Kilkenny, Tipperary and Waterford and decided to take up the 1,000km run challenge in memory of one of their best friends, Rian Anthony (17) from Piltown who passed away tragically last November.
Rian’s untimely passing sent shockwaves through the local community and among his many, many friends. Tributes to Rian flooded in from far afield such was the affection he was held in by so many.
He was also a very talented student and sportsman, renowned for his performances on the hurling and rugby pitch.
Shortly after Christmas, ten of Rian’s friends came up with the idea of the Run4Rian which would see them run 1,000km over five weeks, 200km a week, to raise awareness of mental health in teenagers.
The boys began their challenge during the midterm break last month and completed the challenge over the weekend.
Those who took part in the challenge included Rian’s brother Darragh and Kilkenny Minor Hurler Braedon Wheeler, Glen Power, Kieran Barry, Billy O Callaghan, Conor McGowan, Aidan Friend, Neil Moriarty, Owen Collins, and Aidan Walsh.
The group has set up a GoFundMe www.gofundme.com/run4rian which will remain open for donations until this Sunday, March 28.
