Kildare man sets out on 24-hour golf marathon for The Irish Cancer Society
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Ciaran Cunneen, who is from Caragh and a member of Cill Dara G, has completed 90 and 120 hole golf marathons and run two marathons in aid of The Irish Cancer Society
Ciaran Cunneen from Caragh and a member of Cill Dara GC has been playing 24 hours of golf from Wednesday, June 24 into June 25 at his home course in Kildare.
In the past, Ciaran has completed 90 and 120 hole golf marathons and run two marathons in aid of The Irish Cancer Society. This charity is particularly personal for him.
"My two daughters suffer with endometriosis and as a father, I feel helpless and useless as I can't help in any way to ease their agonising pain. This is my small way of giving back to a great charity, run by selfless volunteers. Although many suffer with this disease, the research for a cure is very much lacking in Ireland, compared to other European countries. In most cases, they are just told to ‘get on with it’. But that attitude is slowly changing with social media and the current Dept of Health highlighting the need for more research in this area.”
As for the 24 hours of golf, the reason is simple, the girls suffer with cramps and great abdominal distress for 24 hours at a time.
Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory disease estimated to affect 10 % (190 million) girls, women and individuals assigned female at birth worldwide. In Ireland it is estimated that 200,000 women are affected by the disease.
“I picked Wednesday 24th as it is Ladies Day at Cill Dara and the women, a special mention to this year's Ladies captain, Joan Moran and her committee, who have been most supportive of this event.
“Close to the longest day of the year, I won't be playing too long in the dark, I'll have the help of luminous golf balls, a head torch and my knowledge of the course to get me through the night.
“It has been said that I play golf like I have my eyes closed so I shouldn't have any problems. I also have members and friends coming out to play 9 or 18 holes with me so I won't be out there on my own. There are even a few that are crazy enough to play through the night with me, which is great. I don't have a set goal of holes or rounds to complete but 12 loops of Cill Dara is a nice, round number.”
Please donate whatever you can to this worthy cause. HERE: eventmaster.ie/fundraising/pages/CC33210757