A hardy Galway athlete is running the width of his native county next week – the equivalent of four marathons in one day – in honour of his father and to raise funds for the Alzheimer Society of Ireland.

Next Thursday, Galway native Eoin White will run from the River Shannon to the Atlantic Ocean – that’s 172 kilometres – in honour of his father, John, who lives with dementia.

John was diagnosed with dementia in 2017, and since then, he used many ASI services but recently moved to long-term care in Caiseal Geal Care Home in Castlegar.

Eoin, a father of three originally from Renmore and living in Salthill, has completed several marathons before – but 4 Marathons for Memory will be the longest route he will run in one setting.

He has spent the last year training for the day – and he is proud to do it, both for his father and the Alzheimer Society of Ireland.

“Talking and sharing my experiences with dementia have shown me that so many people in my circle have also been affected by it,” he said this week.

“This run is a sort of pilgrimage for me. Dad can no longer walk but he has raised a son that can run 172K in one day. And I couldn’t do this if it wasn’t for him.”

John is originally from Nenagh, Co. Tipperary, but moved to Galway after his wedding to Eileen 53 years ago in 1971.

“After working for the BBC in England, RTÉ in Dublin and the UN in Indonesia and Iraq, Dad started working with AnCo (which became FÁS) in the Mervue Training Centre in the early 1970’s where he worked until retirement in 2000,” says Eoin.

Caption: Eoin White.

Get the full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune, on sale in shops now, or you can download the digital edition from www.connachttribune.ie. You can also download our Connacht Tribune App from Apple’s App Store or get the Android Version from Google Play.

■ You can learn more about 4 Marathons for Memory at https://www.4marathons formemory.com/