The Alan Kerins Projects has launched an imaginative fundraising event which will see the All Ireland Sam Maguire trophy and an All Ireland football medal from each of the 32 counties reach the top of Ireland’s highest mountain, Carrauntoohil.
The event aims to raise funds for the Alan Kerins Projects which provides support to the poorest and most disadvantaged people and communities in Africa.
Getting Sam Maguire to the top will be achieved with the help of some of Gaelic football’s greatest names who will also carry their medals to the summit.
In attendance at the launch were Dublin footballer Dean Rock, Cork football captain Michael Shields, former Dublin footballer Barry Cahill and former Galway dual player and charity founder Alan Kerins.
Malachi O’ Brien’s winning medal from the first ever All Ireland football final played in 1887, which is the oldest known All Ireland medal in existence was also present for the launch of the campaign and will be among those carried to the summit on May 15th.
The charity is looking to recruit one climber from each county in Ireland who will commit to raise €2,500 for the charity. Climbers will be accepted on a first come, first served basis. with more information available at www.samtothesummit.com
“I’m really looking forward to this unique event and it’s going to be a great few days in Keel,” said charity founder Alan Kerins.
“The enthusiasm shown by current and former players to get involved in the climb has been really humbling and important so I thank them for that. I’ve also been blown away by the support of the Keel community and GAA club in what is their historic 125th year and congratulations to all involved for reaching that impressive milestone. All money raised by ‘Sam to the Summit’ will go to helping some of the most vulnerable yet inspirational people and communities in Zambia and I am extremely grateful for all the support we have received so far.”
Sam to the Summit is supported by a range of commercial sponsors including Portwest, Newstalk 106-108fm, the Irish Independent, Keel Community Council, Keel GAA Club, Pembroke Communications, Hewlett Packard and O’Dowd Architecture and Design.
No pressure on any of those but this time last year we wrote suggesting that a first time involvement in sponsoring the Alan Kerins project might be a foresight of greater involvement in sporting association for a company called Liberty Insurance who within months had signed on as five year sponsor of the All Ireland Hurling and Camogie Championships.
