Closing date for Pink Ribbon Walk extended

With registrations for the Kells Pink Ribbon Walk coming in thick and fast, the organisers have decided to extend the closing date for applications to the 27th August. "We have received an amazing response to the walk this year, and have got so many registration forms already. Our original closing date was the 13th August, but we didn't want to disappoint people, so we have extended that date by another two weeks," says Penny McGowan, chairperson of the Kells Pink Ribbon Walk. "However, we must have a cut off point when the numbers get to a level where health and safety could become an issue so we're asking people to register as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. And the sooner people register, the sooner they can start fundraising," she adds. "Which, after all, is the point of the walk - to raise as much money as possible for Action Breast Cancer." The organisers are asking entrants to try to raise €100 sponsorship per person. They set this target because they've seen just how much the funds that were raised last year helped people who have been affected by breast cancer and they know that Action Breast Cancer needs all the support it can get. "Of course, we know that money is tight for everyone this year but once you start fundraising, you'll find people can be amazingly generous. And to reach your target, you only need 20 friends to sponsor you €5 each or 10 friends paying €10 each to take part in a quiz, for example," Ms McGowan says. "We have also launched a special offer - if you can get a group of four people together, through work, friends or family, then you can sign up as a team and raise €375 between you. And we'll be awarding prizes for both the top individual fundraiser and the top team." It can be hard to know where to start when faced with the prospect of fundraising, but the organisers have some good ideas to get you started. These include starting as soon as possible, encouraging others to help you and telling your family, friends, work colleagues and people you know through sports and leisure clubs about the walk - and ask them to help you fundraise. Carry your sponsorship card with you as you never know whom you might bump in to and create your own online sponsorship page on a website such as My Charity (www.mycharity.ie/charity/irishcancer/) and then people can sponsor you online. Prospective walkers can download an entry form from the Pink Ribbon website, pick up a form in Kells at O'Brien's SuperValu; the Headfort Arms Hotel, Dunnes The Premier House or the Kells Chamber of Commerce Office. In Navan, forms are available in Ribbon Rouge Boutique; in Athboy, at McElhinney's; and in Oldcastle, at the Fincourt Hotel; or phone (087) 984 4724.