Latest news with #CysticFibrosisIreland
Irish Daily Mirror
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
Al Porter takes on Hell and Back after woman called his bluff to 'do more good'
Comedian Al Porter took on a hellish challenge after a random woman called his bluff when he said he wanted to do more to help people. The Dubliner, 32, told his over 12k Instagram followers that while he's gigging at night, he has time during the day to help others. And one of his followers, Lisa Hand, had the perfect challenge for him. Her grandson Miles has Cystic Fibrosis, so she organised a team for Hell And Back to raise money for Cystic Fibrosis Ireland. Unfortunately, she got injured and couldn't participate in the race, so she asked Al if he could gather his own team to raise some much-needed funds. The comedian jumped at the opportunity and convinced his boyfriend and two friends to take on the crazy challenge with him. Hell And Back at Dawn was held at Kilruddery Estate, Co Wicklow, last Saturday, and consists of a hellish 7km run with army-style obstacles. Al told the Irish Mirror: 'I immediately regretted my decision, because I started telling people in my life and they were all panicking, they were saying people train for this. They were like, 'No you won't be okay. A helicopter is going to have to come and rescue you.'" However, the comedian didn't want to go back on his word. After gigging in Cork on Friday night, he drove back to Dublin, had a sausage sandwich and travelled to Wicklow to start the challenge with no sleep. He continued: 'It was a sunny morning, so we were roasting, but, if it had been raining it would have been way worse. You're jumping over hurdles and ditches, you're on your hands and knees crawling under nets that are really close to the ground in the mud. 'You're climbing over rock walls, across rock walls, swinging on ropes from one side of a thing to another, over water, at one point, trudging through water.' Despite doing no training, the team made it through the hellish course in two hours. Al said if he wasn't raising money for such a good cause, he would've thrown in the towel. The comedian was especially keen to race for Cystic Fibrosis Ireland after Julian Benson died last month aged 54. The Dancing With The Stars judge had CF and spent his life advocating and raising money to help those living with the disease. Al said: 'I knew Julian because everybody who was in showbiz knew him, he was Mr Showbiz. 'He'd invited me to things before, like his charity balls and things like that. My mom loved him, and I think he's great and had a great personality. So there was just something about the fact that when this woman was asking me [to raise funds for] CF and with Julian just passed, that was in my head. 'I'd been having so many conversations with my mam where we were agreeing that he was a really inspiring person and that he really defied the odds to be such a positive, happy and encouraging person…so there was just something that almost it was meant to be.' Al has raised €2,300 for Cystic Fibrosis Ireland, and people can continue to donate on his GoFundMe page.
Irish Independent
30-04-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Cystic fibrosis sufferer praises charitable Co Wicklow motorbike riders
The annual charity bike-run takes place each year in memory of the late Mark Coster of Rathnew, who sadly passed away in April of 2021. Up to 60 bikers met at the Coffee Dock in Bray on Sunday at 11am for the start of the annual run before making their way to Rathnew. The first Mark Coster memorial run took place in 2022 to help raise funds to help then three-year-old Kane Fox of Merrymeeting in Rathnew, get life-changing treatment in the US. The runs in 2023 and 2024 were for the I Am Alex campaign, to assist the family of Alex Dunne of Rathnew, who has a rare brain injury called periventricular leukomalacia or PVL. This year, the run took place to raise funds for Cystic Fibrosis Ireland, after the organisers got in touch with Rathnew local Erica Newsome, who suffers from the condition. Gavin Ryan, one of the organisers of the memorial run, said: 'We always try to keep the fundraising as local as we can. I had a chat with Erica to see if she would mind is we raised funds this year for Cystic Fibrosis Ireland, and she was delighted. She was actually thinking of doing something for the charity herself, so everything just fell into place after that.' Erica was also present at the run and accepted a cheque for €500 from Ann Redmond of Rathnew Bingo on behalf of Cystic Fibrosis Ireland. Erica said: 'It was an amazing turnout with over 60 motorcycles attending the run in aid of Cystic Fibrosis. 'I have cystic fibrosis myself and lost my brother to cystic fibrosis when he was just 14 years old, many of my friends have also passed away from the illness so it means so much to me that we can get awareness out there and raise much needed funds for Cystic Fibrosis. 'We had a great day in memory of Mark Coster. A massive thanks to Gavin and the lads for choosing Cystic Fibrosis as this years charity. I'm delighted to say €930 was raised for Cystic Fibrosis. 'Also thanks to Ann and the ladies and gents of Rathnew bingo who also raised €500 for the charity. Altogether I will hand over €1430 to Cystic Fibrosis Ireland as soon as possible. Thanks so much to everyone who popped out to see all the bikes and donate whatever they could to a great cause. It was a great turn out and it will be a day I will remember forever. ' Mark's family members were also present ad helped lay a wreath at his graveside in Rathnew Cemetery. Gavin added: 'We held a bucket collection on the day, which raised €1,430. We have to thank the marshals involved on the day and all the bikers and everyone else who supported the event, as well as all those who helped make it happen.' Anyone wishing to donate towards the campaign can still do so by texting '65Roses' to 50300 to donate €4.
Irish Independent
24-04-2025
- Health
- Irish Independent
Rathnew girl with Cystic Fibrosis inspires Mark Coster memorial
Mark of Drumkay, Rathnew, sadly passed away in April of 2021, and friends of his whom badly miss him, have been organising a bike run each year in his honour. The first Mark Coster memorial run took place in 2022 to help raise funds to help then three-year-old Kane Fox of Merrymeeting in Rathnew, get life-changing treatment in the US. The past two runs, held in 2023 and 2024, were for the I Am Alex campaign, to assist the family of Alex Dunne of Rathnew, who has a rare brain injury called Periventricular Leukomalacia or PVL. This year's run takes place on Sunday, April 27, in aid of Cystic Fibrosis Ireland, which Rathnew's Erica Newsome suffers from, having lost her brother Ivan to the illness when he was just 14 years old. Gavin Ryan, one of the organisers of the memorial run, said: 'This is our fourth year carrying out the run, and we always try to keep it local as far as our fundraising. The past memorial runs have featured anything from 25 to 50 bikers. We raised around €800 at our first run, and each event since has raised around €1,200 each year. 'There is a core group of us that go around together but on the day we are always joined by countless other bikers, many from along the east coast, but we also had a few last year from the likes of Tipperary. We always get plenty of support and we will be hoping for similar levels of support this year too.' The memorial run meets at the Coffee Dock on Bray seafront at 11am and then heads to Rathnew, arriving at the local cemetery at around 12 noon, where a wreath will be laid at Mark's graveside. The event will be fully marshalled and bucket collections will also take place. Gavin added: 'Anyone who wants to particulate can just turn up on the day. It's always quite an emotional and poignant occasion when we lay the wreath at Mark's grave. 'He is badly missed but it's nice to be able to help a good cause while also remembering Mark.' Anyone wishing to donate towards the campaign who won't be able to make it on the day can text '65Roses' to 50300 to donate €4.
