Sheffield's only Gaelic football team to run length of Ireland to raise money for front line NHS staff

The city’s only Gaelic team, St Vincent's GAA, will run from the most northern point in Malin Head to the most southern point in Mizen Head – to raise money for NHS staff.

Around 36 team members will collectively run the 1040km distance over the next 11 days to generate funds for Sheffield Hospitals Charity during the coronavirus crisis.

After each player has completed their daily run, St Vincent’s GAA will upload a map to social media to show how far the team has virtually travelled.

The club which was founded by former county player Niall Murphy in 2017, has already beaten their £500 target and raised £840 for NHS workers on the first day of their 12 day challenge.

St Vincent’s GAA committee member and University of Sheffield dental student Eimear Wilson shared how it feels to have received so many donations already.

"It's amazing, people overwhelm you completely with their generosity because it's obviously for such a good cause.

"It's so good to see that even though people are probably financially struggling themselves, they are able to spare anything to help because the charities are in such good need of it.”

Players continue to train through weekly video calls in order to keep their fitness up while they are unable to play matches due to Covid-19.

The 26-year-old student explained what motivated the team to give something back to essential workers.

"We are all quite young and fit people and we thought surely there is something we can do because sometimes you feel like there's not a lot you can do”, Eimear added.

"But this is just something very very small to try and help out the people who probably need it most at this time.

"People are dying to get out for a wee run and it's kind of good as well plus you can't go to the gym and we can't train together so it's really good for us for motivation.”

To donate to St Vincent’s GAA fundraiser, click here.

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