A LONDON Irishman will trek more than 100 miles across the South Downs over three days to raise vital funds for three charities.
Tom Conniffe will embark on his ‘Walk 101’ challenge in June – which will see him tackle the 101 mile South Downs Way trek between Winchester and Eastbourne.
He hopes to raise £5,000 for charities dealing with medical conditions that have struck his family in recent years.
“I lost my aunt Chrissie on Christmas Eve, following a stroke, and her brother, my uncle Paddy, over in Co. Galway, is living with the effects of one he suffered early in 2014,” Tom told The Irish Post this week.
“In November my friend Ian, who I have known since our university days, died. He was just 41 but died from a brain tumour, leaving behind a wife and two young children,” the 43-year-old, who lives in Finsbury Park, added.
Tom, who has also lost his grandfather, his aunt and his uncle’s father to pancreatic cancer, will split the cash raised through his trek between The Brain Tumour Charity, the Stroke Association and the Pancreatic Cancer UK charity.
His friend Joan, a second generation mother-of-two, is also battling pancreatic cancer, Tom confirmed, before adding: “All three causes have a huge personal resonance with me and members of our community and I want to do my bit.”
To date Tom has already raised more than £2,400 in support for his Walk 101 challenge, which kicks off on June 18.
To sponsor him in his challenge visit http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/tomscharitychallenge
