AN IRISHMAN aiming to complete a 2,500km trek for Dementia Research has reached the halfway mark with his Austrian friend.
Eamonn Donnelly and Sepp Tieber have traveled 1,250km from Graz so far having reached the town of Antheny in northern France after thirteen days.
They are currently making their way towards Calais where they will catch a ferry over to Dover in England.
The pair will then trek across England and Wales before getting another ferry from Fishguard to Rosslare in Co. Wexford.
The final leg of their mammoth expedition will take them northwards along Ireland’s ‘ancient east’ coast to Mr Donnelly’s home in Keady, Co. Armagh.
The trek – entitled The Long Walk Home – was inspired by Mr Donnelly’s mother Margaret who died in April 2014 at the age of 71.
She suffered from a rare and extremely aggressive form of dementia.
It is hoped that the journey will help increase awareness about the importance of the issue while also raising funds for dementia research in Northern Ireland/UK, Ireland and Austria.
Mr Donnelly has enlisted the support of The Alzheimer’s Society in Northern Ireland and Britain as well as The Alzheimer Society of Ireland, who will both benefit from funds raised by the walk.
Eamonn (left) and Sepp began their 2,500km trek to Co. Armagh in Graz, Austria on June 18.He has lived in Austria since 1990 along with his wife and three children, where he teaches English as a foreign language.
Trek buddy Sepp formed the Irish band Boxty which has toured all over Austria and other countries in Europe.
“The idea for The Long Walk Home, from my adopted home near Graz in Austria to my native home in Keady, Co. Armagh, featured in many a late-night pub talk, but that's where it started and ended,” Eamonn explains.
"When my mother Margaret passed away a few years ago, after suffering from a rare and extremely aggressive form of dementia, the idea took on a whole new meaning and purpose.
“Frustrated and feeling helpless that nothing could be done to alleviate the symptoms let alone cure this cruel disease, it became apparent to me and my family that much more needed to be done to understand and tackle it.
“The Long Walk Home is a very small step along the way to doing just that, hoping to raise awareness and much needed funds for dementia research, while also honouring the life of an amazing wife, mother, grandmother and friend.”
Eamonn and Sepp are documenting their epic trek online here, where you can also donate to their cause.
Good luck lads!
