Joe Slattery takes on Dublin Marathon in aid of the Northstar Family Support Project

Joe Slattery pictured above is running the Dublin Marathon in aid of the Northstar Family Support Project. Picture: Richard Lynch/ilovelimerick

Joe Slattery takes on Dublin Marathon in aid of the Northstar Family Support Project

By I Love Limerick correspondent Mary Caroline McCarthy

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Joe Slattery, Coordinator of the Northstar Family Support Project based at 28 John Street, Limerick will be running the full virtual Dublin Marathon on October 24. All the funds raised will be going towards the Northstar Family Support Project.

The Northstar Family Support Project offers free support to families living with a loved one who is substance dependent. Having a loved one who is substance dependent can be very traumatic and emotionally draining for family members. It is not uncommon for loved ones to experience feelings of despair, shame, internal blame, and feelings of loss and sometimes they are unsure how best to move forward.

The Northstar Family Support Project offers one on one support, peer and educational groups, access to counselling and other holistic therapies. The focus of these interventions is to provide space and time for families to work through the different feelings they are experiencing and to look at the ways they are responding to their loved ones and how those actions are affecting them and other family members.

This year’s Dublin Marathon will take place virtually due to the COVID restrictions that have been put in place across the country. Runners will sign up to run 4 miles, 10 km, a half marathon, or a full marathon. The runners will be participating with their smartphone and can complete the distances safely in their local area, which is supported by the Dublin marathon app, which will record their distance and upload their time automatically.

Joe has been running on and off for years but had never really taken it seriously until now. He started back running during the Covid-19 lockdown to keep himself sane. He decided to join his local triathlon club, joining some zoom exercise sessions and his fitness and confidence grew from there.

All funding raised by Joe Slattery’s go fund me will go directly into the running of the Northstar Family Support Project building.

Joe told us, “I’ve always wanted to experience the feeling of running a marathon but never felt confident that I would be strong enough to do it. Now at the age of 43, I’ve never felt as fit and healthy, dropping over 2.5 stone in weight since March.  I’m taking part in this challenge as a personal achievement for me and hopefully help to raise some money to support families across the Limerick region.”

To donate to Joe’s GoFundMe, go HERE 

For more stories on fundraisers go HERE 

For more information on Northstar Family Support Project, go HERE