Carrie thanks all who helped with Sarah Swaine Run

Some of the 367 people who took part in the Run.

With the final tally from the Sarah Swaine Memorial Run in Kilcullen now at €5,350, organiser and aunt of Sarah, Carrie Swayne, has expressed her thanks to everyone who helped and took part, writes Brian Byrne.

Individuals, school pupils, and businesses across mid- and south Kildare and Carlow all supported the effort, which raised money for the CanTeen charity that helped Kilcullen teenager Sarah Swaine while she was dealing with the cancer to which she finally succumbed.

The first place trophies for the run, which attracted 367 registered participants, were provided by Douglas Jewellers in Carlow, while Aldi in Athy donated water and banana importers Ffyffes provided 300 pieces of their fruit for the runners.

The medals for those who took part were paid for by donations from a wide range of sources, including Kilcullen Community Childcare Centre; Colaiste Lorcan and Scoil Diarmada in Castledermot; Hillview Nursing Home in Carlow; Ecokem, Liftboy, World of Catering, the Spout Bar, and Appleton Auctioneers in Kilcullen; the Crookstown Inn, Ballitore and Paul Byrne Car Sales in Timolin.

Spot prizes for the raffle in The Hideout after the Run were donated by Zovi Hairdrssers, Raths Londis, Horans Centre and Stacks Pharmacy in Castledermot; Eurospar, Fallons, Emporium Hairdressers, and McTernans in Kilcullen; and Villa Clothing, Sam McCauleys, Supermacs, Talbot Hotel, McDonalds, Dinn Ri Hotel, the Roadhouse Restaurant, Car Zone, PR Reilly, and O'Brien's Fine Wines, all in Carlow.

"I would also like to thank all the volunteers who came on the day," Carrie Swayne adds. "These include the scouts, St John's Ambulance, and the local gardai in Kilcullen for their time."