#dublinbaynews – Lord Mayor of Dublin Christy Burke today called on walkers of all ages to register for the tenth annual Harbour2Harbour Walk in aid of Aware. The walk, which takes place on St. Patrick's Day, Tuesday 17th March 2015 at 10.30am will help to raise vital funds and awareness for the work of Aware, the national organisation which provides a range of support, education and information services around depression and mental health.
A fun event for an important cause, participants can choose to walk from Dun Laoghaire Harbour to Howth Harbour or vice versa along a 16.2 mile route that takes in the scenic vista of Dublin Bay. Now in its tenth year, the walk has become a hugely popular event with over 870 walkers raising €40,000 in 2014. This year Aware hopes to increase the number of participants to 1,500 and increase funds raised through participation, sponsorship and online donations from the event.
Promising a fun-filled family day out, there will be extra activities and treats along the way too thanks to Dublin Port Company. A charity partner of Aware for the organisation's 30th year, Dublin Port Company is hosting a refreshment station for all participants at Berth 18 (opposite 3 Arena), marking the mid-way point of the walk. Music and refreshments will be in full flow at Dublin Port's 'halfway hoolie' to spur walkers on the next leg of their journey!
Lord Mayor Christy Burke said: "This year's walk promises to be a fantastic day out for a very important cause. Getting out in the fresh air, taking part in exercise and being involved in group activities can all be beneficial when it comes to looking after our mental health and wellbeing, so the Harbour2Harbour Walk is a very fitting event that promises to bring family and friends together this St. Patrick's Day in Dublin."
John Fairley, Land Operations Manager, Dublin Port Company, said: "As Aware's new charity partner, Dublin Port Company is delighted to support this fantastic event. For 30 years Aware has been making a real difference to the lives of so many individuals and families across Ireland. Anyone who has attended the Harbour2Harbour Walk in previous years knows that it is an immensely enjoyable day out and this year promises to be no exception. I'd encourage walkers to sign up and make this St. Patrick's Day a day to remember."
Amo Sayed, Head of Business Development and Fundraising with Aware said: "We're really excited about this year's Harbour2Harbour Walk. Little did anyone think when the event started back in 2005 that it would still be one of Aware's most important Dublin-based fundraisers a decade later! It's a brilliant alternative on the country's national day, and we've had parents with babies in strollers, teenagers, groups of friends or colleagues, and one of our most regular walkers over the years is a man in his eighties. It really is a great day out, and yes the legs will be tired at the end of it but there's nothing like a bracing walk along the spectacular Dublin Bay to blow the cobwebs away."
The deadline for registrations for the Harbour2Harbour Walk is 14th March. Entry €25 per person available now at https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/harbour2harbour-walk-2015-dublin-tickets-15372501566. Participants are also encouraged to take a sponsorship card from Aware and raise further support for the organisation's work.