Local martial arts expert takes on major fundraising challenge
Athlone kickboxing expert Martin Ward is about to embark on one of the biggest challenges of a lengthy career in martial arts.
Martin, head coach at the local Na Fianna Martial Arts School, will be traversing the length and breadth of the country, starting on July 1, to complete 20 kickboxing rounds every day at different venues.
Martin will visit all 32 counties, both north and south of the border, involving over 600 rounds of kickboxing during the month.
His mammoth effort will be raising funds for the Make A Wish Foundation, and the final leg of the 32-day tour will conclude in Athlone on August 1.
Martin told the Westmeath Independent that he's excited by the challenge that awaits, but he also recognises the volume of work needed that will go into completing it – even as a vastly experienced martial arts proponent who has sampled success, many times, on the world kickboxing stage.
“It is of course a very tough challenge,” he said.
“Even when I've been training for world championship fights, I'd train maybe three days and then take one off to recover. It will be physically demanding on the body, with the travelling every day too, but I'm looking forward to pushing myself and getting it done,” added Martin. The Athlone man has received great support from members of his Na Fianna club, as well as from the many clubs across the country who will accommodate Martin for his sparring sessions.
The first three days of the challenge will see Martin sparring in Leitrim, Longford and Sligo before the challenge heads north to Donegal, Derry, Antrim, Down, Armagh, Tyrone and Fermanagh. The next ten days involve trips to Monaghan, Cavan, Louth, Meath, Dublin, Wicklow, Wexford, Waterford, Cork and Kerry.
As Martin heads for the home stretch, he will stop-off in Limerick, Clare, Galway, Mayo, Roscommon, Offaly, Tipperary, Laois, Kilkenny, Carlow and Kildare. All of Martin's journey will be documented with details to be confirmed for the venue of his final session in Athlone on August 1.
Martin's club, Na Fianna (based at Summerhill Business Park), also recently raised money for St Hilda's Services in Athlone and for Infinity Friends, a social club for autistic children and youth in Athlone and its surrounding areas.
Martin will be setting up an idonate page for the challenge, so anyone interested in donating and supporting Martin's efforts should keep an eye on the Na Fianna's social media platforms.
Martin also said he is interested in having businesses coming on-board to sponsor events in individual counties.