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Sanctuary Runners open call for Great Limerick Run members

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2 years ago

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Sanctuary Runners Limerick is calling for runners to join them in training for this year’s Great Limerick Run.

Sanctuary Runners open call for Great Limerick Run members

By I Love Limerick correspondent Ava O’Donoghue

Sanctuary Runners

Commencing on March 7, training sessions will be held each Monday at Maguire’s pitch in UL to get runners in shape.


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The Sanctuary Runners’ initiative, established in Cork in February 2018, aims to enable Irish people to run in solidarity with those living in Direct Provision centres in Limerick City and County.

This not only benefits the physical health and mental well-being of those in Direct Provision but also helps to raise awareness about the Direct Provision system and forges  friendships through positive action.

Sanctuary Runners Limerick is inviting the public to join them as they train for this year’s Great Limerick Run 10K, taking place on May 1.

Commencing on March 7, training sessions will be held each Monday at Maguire’s pitch in UL to get runners in shape.

Due to the pandemic, the group has not been able to participate in the run for several years, something they previously had a blast doing. They now hope to gain back lost momentum and gather a steady team, ready to participate.

Sanctuary Runners will also join forces with local park runs in Limerick city and county, so that members can all run together on Saturday mornings.

The group has set up a bus service running from Limerick Direct Provision Centres to Maguire’s pitch, beginning on March 7 in preparation for The Great Limerick Run. 

The bus service will pick up residents at Knockalisheen at 6 pm and Hanratty’s at 6:15 pm, arriving at UL to meet the group of Sanctuary Runners at 6:30 p.m. The bus will also drop everyone home after each run.

Irish people are encouraged to join the Runners and proudly wear one of their distinctive blue tops representing friendship, solidarity, and respect – something that is more important now than ever.

These tops are sponsored by Limerick companies and local authorities and will be given to every Sanctuary Runner for free. The initiative is non-political and not focused on promoting protest but rather positivity, dignity, respect, and solidarity.

“Often people don’t know how they can help people in Direct Provision. They don’t know if and how they can meet with them and show their solidarity,” Gillian Fenton of Sanctuary Runners Limerick commented.

“This is a simple, uplifting, and positive way of making that connection. The past two years have been tough for people based in the centres so we want to celebrate the fact that we can run together again as a group.”

To get involved with the Sanctuary Runners, email [email protected].

For more stories on Sanctuary Runners, go HERE 

For more information on the Sanctuary Runners initiative, go HERE 

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