Successful 'Movathon' event sees Ardnagrath NS raise over €600
Ardnagrath NS in Walderstown raised an impressive sum of more than €600 when it took part in a successful Westmeath GAA 'Movathon' event last week.
Wednesday morning last, March 24, began with an influx of colour through the school's gates. The children were buzzing with excitement to take part in the Movathon, a wonderful fundraiser with movement at the heart of it.
Each student was encouraged to wear their club or county colours, and with children from Maryland, Garrycastle, Moate, Rosemount, Athlone, Goldsmith Girls, Drumraney Camogie, Fr Dalton's, and Southern Gaels, there was an abundance of colour on view.
Every child in the school engaged in a walk which added up to a whopping 480km over the course of the day. Third to sixth class walked a 5km loop of the Ardnagrath area. The smaller legs of the junior infants to second class pupils used the immediate school environs to cover a 400m track, with every child covering between five and twelve laps.
After a year of being apart, and with each class celebrating different events separately due to the Covid-19 pandemic, there was a sense of joy at being able to participate in a whole-school event together, albeit still socially distancing. The beautiful morning weather matched the enthusiasm of the eager participants.
The importance of GAA across the country cannot be disputed, not only for sports and fitness but also the community spirit and sense of togetherness which it brings. While also engaging in other sports such as soccer, rugby, basketball and athletics, the GAA has been a hugely popular constant in Ardnagrath NS.
The school has been very lucky to be part of the Cumann na mBunscol finals on a regular basis for the past 10 years, competing in 15 school finals during this period across boys' and girls' football, camogie and hurling. These trips to Cusack Park each year were treasured and the after-parties thoroughly enjoyed, irrespective of the result.
The Movathon initiative is designed to support improvement works at TEG Cusack Park as well as the Westmeath County GAA Committee, the Westmeath Ladies’ Gaelic Football County Board and the Westmeath Camogie Board
Ardnagrath NS was delighted to be part of this worthy cause, and by raising an amazing €636 the school hopes to have contributed in some way to the upgrading of the facilities in Cusack Park and to the incredible efforts of our athletes across all four codes.
As the pupils and teachers in Ardnagrath NS rest their legs and heads for the Easter break, after a difficult term, they hope to have inspired others to get involved and created an awareness of the Westmeath Movathon, which runs until Easter Monday, April 5.