Entrepreneur urges Corkonians to go the distance to raise funds for homeless families

AN entrepreneur is urging Corkonians to Good Shepherd Cork’s latest initiative to raise funds for families who are homeless as they prepare for the return to school.

Dan Sweeney and his family are calling on people to take part in the #Homerun initiative by walking, running or crawling a distance of their choice on September 12 and 13.

The funds raised will be used to families and children living in emergency accommodation as they prepare to return to school for the first time in months and will allow Good Shepherd Cork to continue ing Cork’s homeless community.

Following the cancellation of the Cork City Marathon and the Ladies Mini Marathon this year, which contribute significantly to Good Shepherd Cork’s annual fundraising efforts, people are asked to donate whatever they can to the charity via its website www.goodshepherdcork.ie or by texting ‘EdelHouse’ to 50300, to donate €4 to the initiative.

Participants are being encouraged to share their own homerun on social media using the hashtag #Homerun.

CEO of Good Shepherd Cork, Allison Aldred, said: “We understand that the return to school can be a particularly stressful time for families who are homeless. The money raised will allow us to up to 80 families currently living in our emergency accommodation, B&Bs and self-catering accommodation as their children return to school.” She said that she is “delighted” to have Mr Sweeney and his family onboard in ing the initiative.

“In the past 12 months alone, Dan has raised more than €50,000 in of Good Shepherd Cork,” she said.

Mr Sweeney said that the impact of Covid-19 has made this year’s back-to-school period “more difficult than ever”.

“The #Homerun will help raise much needed funds to reduce the stress on families who are homeless as they prepare their children for the return to school. I’m excited to be part of this initiative and I trust that the people of Cork will come together, as they always do, to help our most vulnerable community during this very difficult time,” he said.