Gordon goes the distance for The Alzheimer Society

“To get that half hour to get out running is more of a challenge than the challenge itself,” Lecarrow's Gordon O'Connor jokes on Thursday as he reflects on his Go the Distance marathon running challenge in aid of The Alzheimer Society of Ireland.

He has a point - his house is a busy one, Gordon and his wife Mary recently welcomed baby Lily, who is just five weeks old, and she joins twins Ella and Freya (6) and Dáire, who is two and a half. So somewhere after feeding and bedtime, he squeezes in a few 2km loops of the countryside near his home after committing to complete the distance of an actual marathon (42km) over the month of April for the charity. His fundraiser has been very successful to date raising over €2,755 by Friday.

Speaking to the Westmeath Independent, Gordon explained that he decided to “do it at his own pace” and after four kilometres the first night, he felt every bit of it, having not run at all since the previous September.

In fact, he jokes that there was “black smoke leaving me coming up the last hill”. Since then it has got a little easier as he passes through the townlands of Carnagh West, Killiaghan and Gort, and Carrigan More, where the land that his father Patsy spent most of his life farming is located.

“I have six runs done and one more will probably finish it. I'm doing about six and half kilometres on average each night I go out,” he explained, saying he's currently at 36.2km.

“I'll finish it Sunday and then I'll leave the fundraiser open for another week and close it then. It's nice to be able to get out and get the fitness back,” added Gordon, thanking everyone who has supported him so far.

Poignantly, he knows personally the good work and support that The Alzheimer Society of Ireland offers families as his own father Patsy (84) has suffered from dementia for many years. He was aware too that the society was severely short of funding after being forced to the postpone their annual Tea Day fundraiser in May and was determined to play his part in helping out.

His dad has been living with dementia for more than ten years now, his mother had been his main carer but sadly, she died in 2017. He and his siblings then took over the caring role with help, and they did that for several years until it was no longer possible and he went into full-time care in Oakwood Nursing Home in Roscommon before Christmas.

“You know what families are going through and it's for them (the fundraiser),” Gordon stressed, adding that “it's a tough thing to be living with” for a loved one and a “tough condition” for families to grapple with everyday.

It's not the first fundraiser Gordon has done for The Alzheimer Society either, the last one was from the comfort of his couch as he asked people to donate for his birthday, raising over €1,800 on that occasion. This venture is little bit more strenuous, he laughs, thanking everyone who donated so far, and appealing to anyone who hasn't to date to support the worthy cause.

Donate here: https://www.facebook.com/donate/1051842531838527/10158688364134947/