Clara native's 350km charity walk in memory of his young niece
Clara native Ronan Scully is preparing to embark on a 350-kilometre walking challenge in memory of his niece, Aoife Doyle Scully, who tragically passed away in a road incident last year.
Aoife was just 14 years of age when she lost her life after being struck by a vehicle on the Clara to Ballycumber road in March 2020.
Her uncle is now planning to remember her in a special way when, along with some lifelong friends, he embarks on his 4th Bay to Bay charity walk on Saturday week, November 6.
The 350km walk from Donegal Bay to Galway Bay will help raise much-needed funds for Self Help Africa and other charities close to Ronan's heart.
The Offaly man, who lives in Galway, said the walk would be dedicated to Aoife's memory. Ronan added that he would also remember his friend and fellow walker David Lohan, his friend, Irish Times journalist and colleague Mary Hunt, his cousin Fr Tom Scully, his Uncle Jim Flattery, his Aunt Terry Colsh, and other family members and friends who all passed away recently and who always supported his charity work.
Having worked for a number of years with Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity in Calcutta, Ronan Scully then spent more than a decade in India, Nepal, Angola, Ethiopia, Kenya and Sierra Leone, and he has continued this work over the past 28 years as a representative in the West of Ireland with Self Help Africa.
The upcoming 350km trip is a sort of 'Irish Camino' for Ronan and friends, and will start from the parish church in Donegal Bay, County Donegal, on Saturday, November 6.
It will conclude a week later with a 5k charity walk, in which everyone is invited to participate, on the promenade in Salthill, Galway, on Saturday, November 13, at 3pm.
All are welcome to join him at the Claddagh Hall in Galway to walk the Salthill Prom for this event. You can register for the 5k at the Claddagh Hall that day, and make a donation of €15, or whatever people can afford, towards the charities.
Ronan is also asking people to do a virtual 1km, 5km or 10km walk, in support of his walk, and to make a donation or get sponsorship and donate it to the charities involved.
The charities that will benefit from the walk are: Self Help Africa, the Galway Rape Crisis Centre and Rosabel Rooms in partnership with The Irish Hospice Foundation.
"The Irish people are amongst the most generous people in the world," said Ronan.
"I feel very blessed, privileged and humbled to be able to do what I do, and to know that so many people have been willing to give their time, their hard-earned money and their efforts to support a host of good causes."
Participants are welcome to join Ronan at any stage along the route but especially on his final 5km walk along the Prom in Galway at 3pm on November 13, or to donate directly to his appeal at www.idonate.ie/AoifeDoyleScully , or by contacting any of the charities, or at ronan.scully@selfhelpafrica.org