Close to 800 runners and walkers and over 50 trucks took to the roads of Moycullen on Sunday to raise funds for Ryan Croker, the local man who was seriously injured in a tragic accident in Australia earlier this year.
Twenty-five year-old Ryan was with friends in a new house they had just moved into when he jumped into a swimming pool. The water level in the pool was quite low and Ryan suffered serious damage to his spine and neck in the incident.
The 5km fun run, which was organised by Rahoon Newcastle Hurling Club and Moycullen GAA, was won by Moycullen’s Brian O’Connor in a time of 17:15 minutes, followed closely by Ian Egan in a time of 17:30 minutes. The first lady home was Michelle Walsh in a time of 20:38 minutes, with Jane Walsh coming in second in a time of 20:47 minutes.
The Truck Run, which was organised by O’Toole Transport, left Oranmore at 12noon, with the convoy making its way through the city, over to Barna and into Moycullen to signal the start of the fun run.
Organisers said they were bowled over by tremendous response to both events, which raised €13,000 for the Ryan Croker Benefit Fund.
Brid Noone from the Run For Ryan Organising Committee said it was brilliant to see runners and walkers coming from all over to Galway to support Ryan, while Truck Run Organiser, Laurence O Toole said they were just happy to have been involved and to do their bit to raise funds to get Ryan back from Australia.
Ryan is understood to no longer be in a serious condition, but is being fitted with a head brace this week, which will allow him be moved and receive further treatment.
