Marathon challenge raise over €26k for Join Our Boys
By Rebekah O'Reilly
Two local men were part of a Dublin City Marathon challenge which has raised over €26,000 for the Join Our Boys Trust.
James Cuddy and Dave McCourt took part in a challenge at this year’s Dublin City Marathon in memory of Archie Naughton, which saw them running the marathon with a 0.0% keg strapped to their backs, with the men taking turns carrying it for all 26.2 miles. The duo were joined by five other friends, Sean McConn, Kevin Raftery, Kieran Dowd, Michael Rogerson, and Dave Newell, to take on the unique challenge.
Archie passed away in 2022, aged just 16, from complications associated with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD).
Part of his legacy is an effort to ensure treatment in found for his brothers, George and Isaac, and other children and young people who are living with the rare genetic disease.
Known as the 'Keg Men', the seven runners took turns carrying the keg throughout the course, using the unusual challenge to highlight the physical and mental burden faced every day by children living with Duchenne and their families.
While the runners were able to put down their load when the marathon was over, children living with the progressive muscle-wasting condition do not have that luxury.
Every cent raised through the challenge goes to the Join Our Boys Trust, which was established in 2014 by the boys' parents Paula and Padraic Naughton following the diagnosis of Archie and his twin brothers, George and Isaac, with DMD.
The Join Our Boys trust works to raise awareness of the disease, fund translational research and educational projects, and support families affected by Duchenne. With no cure currently available, the need for continued research and effective treatments remains urgent.
Tragically, Archie died suddenly from heart failure related to Duchenne on July 7, 2022. He was just 16.
Paula said Archie’s dying wish was for his family and friends to continue raising funds and awareness in the hope of finding a treatment for everyone living with DMD.
His brothers, George and Isaac, are now 16, and the family continues to campaign for progress in research.
'Team Archie' was born at the Dublin City Marathon in 2017, when runners helped the sports-mad Archie to complete the course in an assisted running buggy.
The team quickly became a familiar sight at the marathon, with a large crowd dressed in orange helping to raise awareness of Duchenne and funds for research.
Archie’s race number, 216, has been retired in his honour, while mile 16 of the marathon course remains a special gathering point for family and supporters. After Archie's passing, his brothers Isaac and George took up the mantle.
"The 'Keg Men' stepped in at the last minute after our original runner was injured. The keg represents the weight that children with Duchenne, a progressive muscle-wasting disease with no cure, carry every minute of every day, and the load carried by everyone living with a rare disease and their families," said Paula Naughton.
Running alongside were 15 members of the Irish Defence Forces’ 7th Infantry Battalion, each carrying a 15kg kit bag, matching the weight of the keg every step of the way.