A 68-year-old south Armagh man – who credits Daisy Hill and Craigavon Area Hospitals for having saved his life after being diagnosed with cancer – is preparing to run the Belfast Marathon for charity.
Pat McGinn admits that it was in later years when he fell in love with running, and his devastating diagnosis and subsequent but slow recovery all added a fresh positivity and left him determined to live life to its fullest.
Now he is making every day count and, together with his band of ‘little helpers’, will kick off his fundraising in his home village of Camlough with a bucket collection this Saturday, April 26.
It – and donations received for his Marathon efforts on Sunday, May 4 – will be tallied and forwarded to support the great work of the Southern Area Hospice.
Pat, a dedicated volunteer, charity fundraiser and long-time supporter of local causes, willl take on the 26.2 mile course to raise essential funds.
He has always been passionate about giving back to the community and this year is once again pushing himself by taking on the Marathon in support of a cause that holds a special place in his heart.
Talking about this weekend’s bucket collection collection, Pat said: “Our team will be in the village collecting on Saturday. People are very generous and supportive – say a wee ‘hello’ to us whilst you’re passing.”
The Camlough man explained how he had been a ‘latecomer’ to the world of running, cycling and walking challenges.
“Some years ago I was seriously ill in Craigavon Area Hospital after having surgery to remove a cancerous growth and then taking sepsis,” he said.
“It was then that I pledged that if I got well I would do things that I had just thought about but always found the time not to do – things such as Mizen to Malin Cycles, running 10ks, Half Marathons and Full Marathons.
“Daisy Hill and Craigavon Hospital medical and care staff saved my life. My recovery took some while; the cancer was gone but the fear of it, sepsis or infection returning, was huge.
“I had an awful fear of crowds and infections. However, my family and friends were good to me and understood. I had to work it out in my own time.”
From finishing his first Marathon in London, Pat has since completed running competitions in New York, Dublin, Belfast and Jersey Marathons, the Great North Run and numerous Half Marathons, all for charities such as Cuan Mhuire (Sr Consilio’s), the Southern Area Hospice and Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY).
Talking about the motivation for his runs, the 68-year-old said: “I carry a lot of friends who I have lost on my life’s journey in my heart over those 26 miles. They and all those people who throw me a few bob in my collections for the charities help me get over the line.
“I’m the blessed one with my life, health, family and friends.
“The running fraternity, the clubs and athletes, are a great bunch of people. There is no elitism amongst them at all, taking time to encourage and advise me. We all might have different motivations for our running challenges but there is a mutual respect and camaraderie between all.
“The only person I have to beat in my running challenges is the person I see in the mirror; my mantra is, ‘One day I will not be able to do this. Today is not that day’.
“I am quietly training away, probably not enough, but one way or the other I’ll get to the finish line!”
To support Pat in his Marathon challenge, donations can be made through his JustGiving page here.
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