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‘CIARAN’S FLYERS’ GET READY TO TAKE ON THE BELFAST CITY MARATHON!

25 April 2009 - 25 April 2009

A Belfast family and their friends are preparing to take part in the various 2009 Deep RiverRock Belfast City Marathon events on Bank Holiday Monday, 4 May to raise vital funds for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust.


Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is the UK’s most common life-threatening inherited disease affecting over 600 people in Northern Ireland. This year the CF Trust is the official charity of the marathon events.

Over 30 people have been inspired to run in the ‘Ciaran’s Flyers’ team by 22 year old Ciaran Murphy, who has Cystic Fibrosis and has been waiting for a life-saving lung transplant for two and a half years. ‘Ciaran’s Flyers’ have taken part in many fund raising activities over the years to help provide vital funds for research and raise awareness of Cystic Fibrosis. The runners also hope to encourage people to sign up to the Organ Donor Register at www.uktransplant.org.uk

Ciaran’s sister Claire said “Although Ciaran has a daily struggle and a fight on his hands he never ever complains and he is an inspiration to so many people. Anyone who meets him will tell you he is a delight to know and we are so so proud of him. We are hoping that even if he hasn’t got his transplant by the start of May he might even walk the last few metres with everyone doing the fun run with his portable oxygen.”

Running the full marathon will be Ciaran’s dad Conrad and his friend Barry Jordan, both from Glengormley, Ciaran’s cousin Diarmuid McNeice and Claire’s boyfriend Ciaran McMullan from Belfast. Ciaran’s mum Deirdre and his aunt Josephine O’Neill will be walking the full marathon distance with friend Mary Courtney.

Also taking part are a relay team made up of Ciaran’s teenage cousins from Belfast and Lurgan, Co. Armagh - Colm O’Neill, Connor McNeice, Darren McNeice, Adam McKerr and Matty McKerr. A team of Ciaran’s dad’s friends from work are also running the relay.

Finally doing the 3 mile fun run will be Ciaran’s aunt Una McNeice, his Uncle Brendan McNeice, Ciaran’s girlfriend Catriona Ferry and her 7 year old daughter Cora-Rose, Ciaran’s cousins Paul O’Neill , Aodhán McNeice, Clodagh McNeice, Liam McNeice Lyndsay McNeice and her 4 year old daughter Rhianna. A group of Una’s friends from Halifax and their children are also running the fun run.

There will also be a team of staff and customers from the Rock Bar on the Falls Road. No doubt on the day there will be a lot more friends joining Team Ciaran’s Flyers.

You can sponsor the team at www.justgiving.com/teamciaransflyers . Sponsorship money raised by Belfast City Marathon runners will help fund research into treating and curing CF. It will also help provide support, advice and appropriate clinical care to the 8,000 babies, children and young adults with Cystic Fibrosis in the UK.

During race weekend Cystic Fibrosis will be auctioning off two sets of New Balance running gear to help raise more funds for the charity. The kit, which has been kindly donated by the event’s trainer and apparel sponsor, New Balance, will include trainers, t-shirt, shorts / leggings and jacket. To be in with a chance of winning one you can enter the raffle at the Fun Run collection point from 1st-3rd May and at the Cystic Fibrosis hospitality marquee on race day.