A Dublin man and his profoundly disabled cousin will begin an odyssey of seven running events, totalling 125km, this month.
Brian Ellison, 41, from Clonshaugh, wants to give his cousin once removed Luke O’Keeffe, 21, from Ballyfermot, the joy of taking part in major running events while raising funds for Stewarts Care Respite Services in Palmerstown.
Luke is a Spastic Quadriplegic with Cerebral Palsy, and is also blind.
Brian’s running mates at Coolock Running Club are providing an adapted chair for Luke at the first event, the club’s ‘Another Way 5K’ at Belcamp Park in north Dublin.
This is the fifth year of the race, which highlights the availability of help for those involved with drugs and criminality and is part of a local campaign to ‘Get the Message Out’ on alternatives to addiction.
The race takes place on Saturday April 25, (11.00am) when Luke’s chair will also be pushed by his twin brother, Craig.
Brian also plans to complete six other events with Luke this year, including the Irish Life Dublin Marathon.
On the eve of last year’s Dublin Marathon, runner Brian told Luke’s mum, ‘my number one cousin, Jennifer O’Keeffe’ how he would love to bring him on a running experience.
“The idea was borne from that thought,” said Brian.
“Initially it was just to be the Dublin Marathon.
“But my fellow Coolock Running Club members agreed to help, and it is important to me that my home event is first.
“As well as providing Luke with the experience, I want to help him give back to the people who help him at Stewarts Care Respite Services.
“But ultimately it is about placing Luke in an environment he would not reach on his own, and for he and his twin brother to make that journey together.”
Donations to Brian and Luke’s fundraising campaign for Stewarts Care Respite Services can be made here: https://gofund.me/d7e8acc46
According to Luke’s mother Jennifer, 46, the undertaking will highlight the dignity of risk and the joy of community.
“Luke will not be just a spectator, he will be a full participant with his twin brother and cousin.
“It shifts his story from what Luke needs to what Luke is actually doing – raising money for the service which supports him.”
The Another Way 5K is a collaboration between Coolock Running Club, local community organisations, Get The Message Out and endurance athlete, Ger Redmond, for whom running played a huge part in transforming his life after imprisonment for involvement with drugs.
The success of an initial event in 2022 prompted Ger to co-found Coolock Running Club in 2023 as an outlet and coping mechanism for local people.
It is one of a number of projects backed by the Darndale Implementation Oversight Group, a Dublin City Council initiative to tackle complex and engrained issues in Darndale.
Group chair, Dr Jack Nolan, said such events are needed to show communities affected by drugs that they are not forgotten.
“Darndale Another Way 5K encourages people to consider a different way of life by highlighting opportunities, services and activities,” he said.
The 5K takes starts and finishing at Belcamp Park after circling Darndale.
You can sign up at: https://eventmaster.ie/event/MrY1SbdiBz
Other supporting organisations include Active Cities Dublin, Archways Systemic Family Support, Northside Partnership, The Dales Centre, Sphere 17 Regional Youth Service, Sláinte Care Healthy Communities, Dublin City Council Sport and Wellbeing Partnership, Dublin City Council North Central Area Office, Darndale Football Club and An Garda Síochána.