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MALACHIANS RAISE £1,500 FOR NEPAL
On Sunday morning 30th September a crowd of Malachians' volunteers were joined by their wives, girlfriends, friends, youngsters and 2 dogs for what turned out to be quite a strenuous 5-mile sponsored walk across Cave Hill. The walk started at the Chester car park at 11.00a.m. and ended at the same venue at 1.15pm. Management at the Chester very kindly provided tea, coffee and sandwiches for the weary wanderers and the club is grateful to them for their continued support, especially to Michelle and Deirdre. Pictures below show the walkers on top of Cave Hill and being revived back in the Chester.
The North Belfast football club's efforts were in support of local Cave Hill Road man Ian Brown and his friends who work for a charity called Sathi Nepali and they have been doing some great work in a village called Chimkhola in a remote mountainous region of Western Nepal for the past couple of years, helping local children get an education and improving their living conditions. Malachians' Committee spokesperson, Kevin Shiels, said the club has been delighted with the response from local people and the total amount raised. Speaking after the walk he said:
"the Chimkola village in Western Nepal is 2,500 metres above sea level and takes over 8 hours to reach as it can only be accessed on foot. So the Cave Hill, standing at 370 metres, was a walk-in-the-park for all our charity walkers in comparison with the endurance test encountered by the local people and volunteers like Ian Brown in Nepal. But it gave us all just a flavour of how difficult life must be for them as our stroll on Cave Hill took us just 2 hours - one quarter of the time it takes them just to reach their village".
"Our small effort has been really worthwhile as the club has raised a total of £1,500 for the charity. We know that Ian and his colleagues in Sathi Nepali will ensure that every single penny of that money will go direct to the front line in Nepal. Malachians FC gets a lot of support every year from local people for our club and we are just grateful for the opportunity to be able to lend our help to such a deserving cause like this. Lately our results on the football field have not all gone our way but doing something for a charity like this helps us to put things in perspective and appreciate what is really important in life."
Malachians would like to say a big Thank You to each and every one of you who contributed to this cause and to all of you who did the walk.
Mals' Committee men, Al Matthews and Joe Briers with Niall Matthews and Josh Briers on Cave Hill
The walkers reach the summit while (right) refreshments in the Chester with Stevie McKeever in background
Uncle Bill was the oldest walker and did it with the help of a hawthorne stick! Jim Kavanagh finished last, but then he's always last! Compo (Al Matthews) was first in the chester carpark, first to the top of cavehill and first back (patience is a virtue Al). Club secretary, Magners McKenna struggled at the back with Kavanagh, but at least he had an excuse (copious glasses of Jeigermeister from Mark Mccourt the previous evening in the Garrick). Joe Briers bought 3 acres of land and sold 3 houses before he reached McArt's Fort (he even asked if anyone knew who owned the Fort as he thought it had development potential!) Gerry Adams Snr nursed his girl Clare round the course and she only fell once! Simba only did it to avoid baby-sitting. Dermie wasn't there but promised to say a prayer for us in Medjugore. Larry managed to complete drinking only water much to diet coke's displeasure.
Ian Brown, from the Cavehill Road, with some kids in Nepal and on right, Gerry Adams, Jim and Simba are joined by 2 crackers (with cheese) after the walk
Thanks also to Ian's parents, David and Heather (below) who bought everyone a drink to say thanks.
Al waits to greet Uncle Bill (with stick) and Kevin as they struggle to the top
Carol Shiels on top of Cave Hill
Do we really have to walk back down again? Al look a shadow of his former self! the jeans are hanging on him!