Ben’s mammoth challenge for charity
Kiladangan man, Ben Banaghan, is undertaking a mammoth challenge - running the length of Britain to raise money and awareness for two charitable causes.
Ben started at the northernmost point of Scotland, John O'Groats, and made his way through the Highlands of Scotland in fog, rain and sunshine, reaching the border of England on day 9. He is running approximately 70k everyday and often late into the night, all to raise funds for the Join Our Boys trust and Mental Health UK.
‘Join Our Boys Trust’ was established in 2014, after three Roscommon brothers, Archie and twin brothers George and Isaac were all diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), a fatal genetic muscle wasting disease, that currently has no treatment or cure.
Sadly, Archie, at the young age of 16, lost his battle with the disease and passed away on July 7 last. His dying wish was to find a cure for his twin brothers, George and Isaac.
George and Isaac, now 12, are paralysed from the waist down and are confined to wheelchairs. Their upper body strength is also diminishing.
The aim of the ‘Join Our Boys Trust’ is twofold, to fund and fit out a purpose-built house that will accommodate the Naughton family for as long as the boys require it and also to help fund research projects which if successful, would slow down progression of the disease considerably. Their hope is that, in time, other treatments or even a cure will be developed.
As a man working in the construction industry, Ben knows how important looking after our mental health is and how difficult it can be for some people to reach out for help. Mental Health UK, like Mental Health Ireland, offer support, advice and a listening ear to people and empower them in their recovery and wellbeing.
Ben's employers, the London-based construction company ISG, have pledged to match all funds raised. This kind of generosity and the support that Ben has received so far from friends, family and the public is what is keeping him going. He is exhausted and dealing with a list of physical injuries but he is still moving and determined to finish this challenge. After nearly three weeks of running the end is only just now in sight - Ben hopes to reach Land’s End, the southernmost point of England on Saturday, September 24. The total length of his run exceeds 1,400km
Please support this local man by following his journey on Instagram, Facebook or Tik Tok