Hey, my name is Eilish and I am running the Belfast Marathon on Sunday May 5th 2024. I am hoping to raise money for a couple of local charitable groups here in South Belfast:

Sólás is a special needs charity (Charity No: NIC100114) in Belfast, which supports children, young people and their families with a broad range of additional needs.

They have a number of social development, educational support and parent support programmes. Some of their current programmes include, early years intervention services, afterschool clubs, youth clubs, respite services, homework clubs, back on track school support, home support, therapeutic services, play and art therapy, adult and children's counselling services, siblings club and SONA, a young adult support service. Further information is available here: https://www.solasbt7.com/

Friends of Maura McArdle: As friends of Maura McArdle, the group want to remember and celebrate Maura's life in a way that reflects some of the things that were important to her. Maura was a powerful person and advocate of personal achievement no matter what the challenge. The group are taking part in the Belfast Marathon 2024 to unite the many sporting clubs and friendship groups that Maura was part of and to fundraise for seven charities; those that provided support to Maura as she lived with her cancer diagnosis, those that advocate the integrative approach to cancer, for which Maura was herself an advocate, and those that provide comfort and care at end of life.

The money raised collectively will be donated to: Hope House, Penny Brohn UK, The Lilac Centre, Oxygen Therapy Centre, Northern Ireland Hospice, Marie Curie and Yes to Life. Further information available here: https://m.facebook.com/people/Friends-of-Maura-McArdle/61553216140555/

All funds will be split 50/50 between the two organisations above.