From Mizen to Malin - Ben's epic fundraiser for worthy groups

Local man Ben Banaghan is enjoying a well-deserved rest after successfully running the length of Ireland in just over a week.

Ben (24) set out from Mizen Head in Co Cork on Monday of last week. Traversing the counties of Cork, Limerick, Tipperary, Offaly, Westmeath, Longford, Cavan and Fermanagh, he reached the other end of the country at Malin Head, Donegal, last Monday evening. He did it to raise money and awareness for two very worthy causes, Mental Health Ireland and Templederry's Alannah Sheehan, who is battling a cancerous brain tumour. By Tuesday afternoon he had raised over €44,000 of a €50,000 target to divide between the two recipients.

“I'm delighted to be finished! I'm delighted with the money I've raised and all the support I got along the way; it really made a big difference,” Ben said after completing the monstrous 550km challenge.

He ran by day and at night, interspersing the distance with only short periods of rest as he covered the equivalent of more than 13 marathons. Experiencing all kinds of emotions along the way, he said the most enjoyable part of the challenge was passing by Nenagh, where he was joined and cheered on by local supporters, including Alannah herself, who stayed with Ben for a section of the journey outside the town. Reaching Donegal and realising the finish line was near was another high point.

Among the low points was one on Tuesday morning when, just 45km into the challenge, Ben was already suffering shin problems as a result of the previous day's exertions. “I had a full week ahead of me so I felt a bit overwhelmed and under pressure,” he recalled. “But I got through it.”

That determination carried him over the rest of the course and, while he did have to slow to a walk at times, the Kiladangan man never gave up. He expressed his gratitude to the members of his small support team, including physio Dan Finnerty for getting him prepared at the start of every day.

After all the months of rigorous training, Ben is glad to have this “weight off the shoulders”, though he must now turn his attention to another challenge in finishing his final year of Construction Management at Limerick Institute of Technology.

For the moment, he is savouring the success of this truly remarkable venture and hoping that people will acknowledge his efforts by helping him hit that €50,000 target for Alannah and Mental Health Ireland.

“After having the run completed now, if we get that, and when we get that, it will be the complete icing on the cake.” Donations can still be made by searching for Ben Banaghan on the GoFundMe website or through visiting Ben's Facebook and Instagram pages.