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A TOTAL OF 46 teams of climbers have successful scaled four peaks in one weekend, fundraising for Focus Ireland.
The events raised as much as €200,000 to support the charity’s work in combating and preventing homelessness.
Today saw the final mountain, Lugnaquilla in Wicklow, climbed by over 300 people.
Other peaks included in the Four Peaks Challenge event, supported by Today FM, were Carrauntoohil in Kerry on Friday, followed by Mweelrea in Mayo and Slieve Donard in Down on Saturday.
Another 47 teams climbed one of each of these peaks.
“There was a real feeling of camaraderie up on the mountains,” Martha Lamont from Dun Laoghaire in Dublin was with ‘The Walkabouts’ team said.
Personally, it’s such a sense achievement to have the four highest peaks in the land scaled and all in one weekend. Doing it for Focus Ireland and raising lots of vital money for the homeless makes it all the better.
The charity said that there currently 5,000 people homeless in Ireland, with a 25 per cent increase in this number and the number of those at risks witnessed last year.
“Without fundraisers like this and the support of people taking part we would really struggle to provide the vital lifeline services that are needed more than ever before,” Focus Ireland’s Director of Fundraising and Marketing Lisa Nicole Dunne said.
She added that “89 cents of every euro” received is spent on charitable services.
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Great stuff….and no mountain rescue team required!
Love to take a para-glider up with me and glide back down.
Don’t ya just love the cynical keyboard warriors who find only negatives in every good deed mentioned on the Journal…
Congrats to all
Well pointed out Emma, the negative comments usually come from those who have never participated in fundraising for charity. There are necessary expenses to be met such as advertising and as not everyone is in a position to volunteer their time some people do have to be paid. That is a massive amount of money that will be going to the charity especially when you consider the fact that out of every €4 raised by the government run Rehab Lotteries only 1c went to the charity. Put into perspective, out of the €220000 raised only €550 (no zeros are missing) would have gone to the homeless if Rehab had been involved! When non-state run charities are involved they do a far better job!
And well done to all those who trekked the four peaks. A 10km trek usually takes me three hours to finish on the Wicklow way!
€22000 was raised that has not gone to the homeless. I think it’s fair to ask where our what it was spent on, do you not?
Simon, it was spent on the buses and accommodation that Focus organise for the participants. They also contributed to the Order of Malta and Mountain rescue services plus volunteers for the weekend need to be put up and petrol coats too.
We were in Sligo last week and my husband and I climbed up Mount Benbulben.
I was below in crosshaven last week and I sat on a bench for a bit.
And is the tax payer going to pay if these people need rescuing ?
The glen of imaal rescue is done by volunteers and won’t cost taxpayers any money
Don’t worry Sinead, you contributed nothing to anyone.
Nice one tommy !
Sinead what sort of a comment is that fairplay to these people for taking on the challenge for s good cause having completed the 5 peaks challenge last year the four peaks is not to be underestimated give some suppose instead of silly comment like that.
Hold on a sec what’s the other €22000 spent on? Wages?
Money well spent if it goes to the mountain rescue..Heroes all them men and women
Simon, you see those adventure races you participate in? Well some of the money you pay for those puts volunteers up in hostels and pays for their food and petrol to attend these events. Thats also where some of the money raised for Focus goes to. These events cannot run unless there are people willing to give up a few days of their time to volunteer. They still need petrol, food and a bed for the night or else these events wouldnt take place.
Well done all , ages since I climbed Lug , really beautiful up there on a clear day
Well done sean & everyone involved
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