Star snapper gears up for NYC marathon
ULSTER Star photographer Aidan O'Reilly is set to take a
bite out of the big apple and run the New York Marathon.
Aidan, 27, a well known face in the Lisburn community is gearing up for the run of his life on Sunday November 1 to raise money for Action Cancer.
The father of one, who has been training since June, is getting over a chest infection but says his training is now back on track. He said: "Action Cancer is a great charity and well worth helping as it supports people with cancer and their families. "In my work I am always out and about taking photographs of charity events. When I heard about the marathon I thought it would be a great challenge and running in aid of Action Cancer made sense. My family, like many others, has been touched by cancer and just from speaking to local people who raise money for the charity I knew it was the right thing to do."
Schools across the city have also been showing support for Aidan by raising money through nonuniform days and other events.
Aidan said: "Children from Brownlee Primary School held a non-uniform day recently to raise sponsorship for me and St Joseph's Primary in Lisburn have donated money. Tonagh Primary and Harmony Hill Primary are helping too. I'm really grateful for all their help."
Classes throughout Brownlee Primary dressed up in different themes and the after-school club ran a superhero day.
A spokesman for Brownlee Primary school said: "The school was delighted to be able to sponsor Aidan, who has been a regular visitor to the school as our local photographer over many years. Everyone at Brownlee Primary School would like to wish Aidan every success for the New York Marathon and his desire to raise money for such a worthy cause." Approximately 100,000 entrants are expected including the 10 people raising money for Action Cancer, of which Aidan is one. Aidan has paid £575 towards the cost of the trip and has pledged to raise a fabulous £2600 sponsorship towards Action Cancer's life saving services.
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| Ulster Star Photographer Aidan O'Reilly receives a cheque of £200 from St Joseph's primary School presenting the Cheque are pupils Conor Dickson and Rachel Roberts. | Ethan Hamilton and Jordan McKnight enter into the spirit of the non-uniform day in Brownlee Primary School |
If you would like to support Aidan please check out https://www.justgiving.com/Aidan-O-reilly.
Aidan will be holding a fundraising night including a raffle in Hagues Bar on Thursday October 15 at 8:30pm.
Ulster Star
02/10/2009
