Fourmilehouse mother Marcella Gavigan has issued a big thank you to all the women who took part in the ‘Get Running for Ronan’ campaign, which saw a large number of women from County Roscommon take part in the Flora Women’s Mini Marathon in Dublin on the June Bank Holiday Monday. Efforts throughout the county resulted in €17,500 being raised for research into Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a condition which Marcella’s 14-year-old son Ronan has. ‘We had an absolutely fantastic response to an article in Roscommon People earlier this year. €13,500 was raised and all of that goes to Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy research, which I feel so passionate about. Research work is going on and trials are going on and I’m hoping Ronan will be able to attend a clinic in England in Hammersmith. We are waiting on an appointment for that. The money raised is going to Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, not just for Ronan, but for everybody with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.’ ‘I would like to thank everyone that took part and I have to say a special thank you to Alison Neary who was a great support in helping me to organise the event. I also want to thank Curves in Roscommon, they organised their own fundraiser and that raised €4,000.’ Curves also presented Ronan with a gift of CDs Last Friday night the women who took part in the ‘Get Running for Ronan’ campaign met up for a presentation night in Kilbride Community Centre, which was a great success. Marcella is hoping that now that the campaign is over, that the issue of Muscular Dystrophy won’t fade from people’s minds. ‘I hope people won’t forget about Ronan, because money needs to be raised and the Government needs to be lobbied. In order for Ronan to get on any of the trials, we’re going to need funding. Again I want to thank Muscular Dystrophy Ireland, they have been a great support for my research events. As an organisation they have been very good, bringing Ronan out and attending an MDI youth camp at the end of the month.’
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