Mayor Hildegarde Naughton takes on World Champion Retro Runner at Launch of Novel Fundraising Event in aid of Western Alzheimers 

Mayor Hildegarde Naughton demonstrated her fitness levels by challenging World Record Champion Retro Runner Garret Doherty to a race in Eyre Square. The Mayor was launching Ireland’s first Retro Run (or backwards run), in aid of Western Alzheimers and organised by Galway-based company Smartsearch.ie.

Ireland’s first Retro Run over a distance of 1km takes place in South Park, Salthill on Sunday 10^th of June with World Champion Garret Doherty expected to lead the field. However, athletes from sports clubs across Ireland are being encouraged to take part.

County Footballers Finian Hanley and Mark Hehir were on hand to demonstrate their fitness levels ahead of the Championship season with Mark Hehir almost beating Garret Doherty in a head to head challenge.

Managing Director of Smartsearch.ie Michael Keaney explained that he wanted to develop a novel fundraising event for Western Alzheimers as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility charter for 2012.  So Ireland’s first Retro Run was born.

“We believe this event will be one of the most memorable fun events in Galway this year. Not content with organising Ireland’s first competitive Retro Run, we also want to break a Guinness World Record, so I am calling on young and old to take up the challenge. It will be completed over a distance of 1km so people of all fitness levels will be able to run or walk it.”

Mayor of Galway Hildegarde Naughton was the first person to try retro running and took on World Champion Garret Doherty in a short race in Eyre Square. Launching the event Mayor Naughton called on everyone to get involved. “This is indeed one of the most novel events to take place in Galway this year and all in aid of a very worthy cause. I would encourage the people of Galway to come on board to help break the Guinness world record while raising money for, and awareness of, for Western Alzheimers.”

The current Guinness World Record for Retro Running is 539 and it was set in Belgium in 2009. Smartsearch.ie is hoping to get 600 people taking part in their retro run event over a short distance of just 1km.

Eamon Bradshaw, Director of Western Alzheimers welcomed the opportunity to raise awareness of Alzheimers and Dementia. “Our charity works with hundreds of families on a monthly basis and we desperately need to continue our fundraising efforts to ensure those families get the service they so badly need. So an event like this gives us a platform to inform a nation on the effects of Alzheimers on an individual but also on a family.”

To register for Ireland’s first Retro Run log onto Smartsearch.ie. The entrance fee is €25 with the first 600 entrants receiving a Retro Running t-shirt and a €25 voucher for Smartsearch.ie. All entrants will receive a certificate on completion of the run/walk. Sponsorship cards to help raise vital funds for Western Alzheimers are available to download from Smartsearch.ie. For more information on the event contact info@smartsearch.ie orjoanne@mediabox.ie.

Caption:

World Champion Retro Runner Garret Doherty and Mayor Hildagarde Naughton take part in a Retro Running challenge in Eyre Square. They attended the official launch of Ireland’s first Retro Run to take place at South Park, Salthill on Sunday June 10th. The event is being organised by Galway-based Smartsearch.ie. Photo by Tommy Hannon.

Smartsearch.ie Need 600 People for Ireland’s First Retro Run in aid of Western Alzheimers

Galway-based company Smartsearch.ie will launch one of the most novel Guinness World Record attempts today Wednesday 11th April in Eyre Square.
Ireland’s first Retro Run will take place in Salthill in June with World Champion Garret Doherty expected to lead the field. From 12noon-3.00pm today a series of fun activities will take place in Galway’s city centre with Smartsearch.ie, i-radio and i-wake up DJ Dave O’Connor.
For anyone who doesn’t know what Retro Running is, says Smartsearch.ie Managing Director Michael Keaney, “it’s quite simply running backwards. We have engaged the World Retro Running Champion, over a 3k distance, Garret Doherty, to help all our entrants with their training and technique.
“Raising much-needed funds for Western Alzheimers, we believe this event will be one of the most memorable fun events in Galway this year. Not content with organising Ireland’s first competitive Retro Run, we also want to break a Guinness World Record, so I am calling on young and old to take up the challenge. It will be completed over a distance of 1 mile or 1.6 kilometres so people of all fitness levels will be able to run or walk it.”
The current Guinness World Record for Retro Running is 539 and it was set in Belgium in 2009. Smartsearch.ie is hoping to get 600 people taking part in their retro run event.
Noel Higgins, Area Manager and Fundraising Officer for Western Alzheimers says, “when we were approached by Michael with this novel fundraising idea, we were immediately enthused and very excited to be involved. We are currently in the process of fundraising for a Residential Unit in Merlin Park which is very much needed given the growing number of Alzheimers and Dementia cases in Ireland and in the West.
Garret Doherty originally from Donegal, but who now lives in Dublin, has been retro running for three years. His introduction to the sport arose from a moment of spontaneity a couple of years ago. While taking his usual jog in Fairview Park, Garret decided to “just stop running forwards and to try running backwards. Then I saw the other people in the park were really intrigued by it.” He embraces this part of the experience and says, “humans love to stare, so I give them something to stare at.”
This unusual form of exercise originates from China. For thousands of years, the Chinese have been walking and running backwards. It’s a common enough sight even now, to see an elderly person taking a light jog in reverse around a park in Shanghai.
Very quickly after making his turn, Garret noticed a significant difference in his health and fitness. He says, “the sport cures all forward running injuries, because it builds up the muscles around the shins and knees. It also creates great forward running momentum as it keeps you on your toes.”
As well as the associated physical benefits, Garret also believes running in reverse leads to an increased mental capacity. He says, “It will increase your vision, awareness, co-ordination and balance. Similar to blind people, you start using the same set of senses.”
Scientists have long studied the vast differences between the methodical left hand side of the brain versus the more creative and independent right hand side. Garret says that by running in reverse “you begin using the right hand side of your brain. It helps you to start thinking for yourself.” He uses Einstein as an example of someone who “was left handed and used the right hand side of his brain, but failed at school.”

To register for Ireland’s first Retro Run log onto Smartsearch.ie. The entrance fee is €25 with the first 600 entrants receiving a Retro Running t-shirt and a €25 voucher for Smartsearch.ie. All entrants will receive a certificate on completion of the run/walk. Sponsorship cards to help raise vital funds for Western Alzheimers are available to download from Smartsearch.ie. For more information on the event contact info@smartsearch.ie or joanne@mediabox.ie.

Date: Today – Wednesday 11th April 2012
Time: 12noon – 3pm
Location: Eyre Square, Galway

Overview:
Galway-based company Smartsearch.ie will officially launch one of the most novel Guinness World Record attempts, in aid of Western Alzheimers. From 12noon-3.00pm today, Wednesday 11th of April a series of fun activities will take place in Galway’s city centre with Smartsearch.ie, i-radio and i-wake up DJ Dave O’Connor.

Smartsearch Online:
Website: www.smartsearch.ie
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Smartsearch
Twitter: @Smartsearch_IE