More than 1,000 children and parents turned out at Clan na Gael GAA Club in Dublin last weekend for the first-ever Run Kids Run event in Dublin, raising over €70,000 to support local schools.

The community-focused fun run featured Olympic boxing champion Kellie Harrington and Irish rugby legend Gordon D’Arcy, who met with children and families before cheering them on during the event.

Participants included boys and girls from 11 local DEIS and national schools, along with parents, teachers, and carers who took to the track in support.

Each participating school received €5,000 to fund long-term projects, with the total proceeds earmarked for educational initiatives across the city. The event was designed not only to promote fitness but also to foster stronger links between businesses and local communities.

The Dublin launch of Run Kids Run, originally founded in the UK in 2020 by Bohill Partners, marks the programme’s first expansion outside London, where it has already raised £850,000 for underfunded schools and mobilised more than 12,500 runners.

The initiative was supported by a wide range of corporate sponsors, with headline backing from Coopers Cross Development and Blanchardstown Shopping Centre.

Other sponsors included Red Rock Developments, 3RE Capital Ventures, MARK/BCP Capital, Avestus Capital Partners, Eastdil Secured, Chadwicks Dublin, Mason Hayes Curran, Glass Bottle and Arthur Cox.

Junior parkrun Ireland also played a key supporting role in organising the run.

Emily Bohill, founder of Run Kids Run, described the event as “a huge success,” thanking the participating schools and sponsors for their involvement and praising the energy of the day.

Peter Collins, Chief Sustainability Officer at Kennedy Wilson, spoke on behalf of Coopers Cross Development, calling the initiative “a wonderful debut in Ireland,” while Danielle D’Ambrosio of Blanchardstown Shopping Centre highlighted the “heartwarming” community atmosphere.

Planning is already underway for the next Dublin Run Kids Run event in 2026.

Further Reading for Sport for Business members:

Check out Sport for Business coverage of Children in Sport

 

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