Drewstown a sea of pink as 600 put best foot forward for cancer charity

Over 600 men and women took part in the second Kells Pink Ribbon Walk on Saturday in the picturesque surroundings of Drewstown House and Girley Eco Bog Walk. While there were some rain showers, the participants were prepared for all weathers as the organisers provided free pink ponchos, which helped to keep everyone dry and made the event a great success once again. The participants ran and walked the sponsored 10 kilometre event to raise funds for Action Breast Cancer. Kells was turned in to a sea of pink over the weekend, with shop and bar staff proudly wearing pink t-shirts and up to 800 pink balloons decorating the streets. A fleet of buses ferried the participants from Kells to Drewstown House for the walk. In attendance was RTE news anchor Bryan Dobson, who has served as the ambassador for the Kells Pink Ribbon Walk since its inauguration. Dobson launched the walk and then set off on the 10k himself. Local man and member of the Celtic Tenors, Matthew Gilsenan, serenaded the runners and walkers before they assembled at the start line. Also there was TV presenter and fashion stylist Barbara McMahon, who was the ambassador for the Killaloe Pink Ribbon Walk which took place in June and raised €80,000 for Action Breast Cancer. The ultimate aim of the Pink Ribbon Walk committee is to have Pink Ribbon Walks taking place all over Ireland on one designated day each year. Penny McGowan is the founder and chairperson of the Kells Pink Ribbon Walk, and it was her daughter, Sara McGowan, who headed up the Killaloe Pink Ribbon Walk committee. The inaugural Kells Pink Ribbon Walk in 2009 raised €100,000 for Action Breast Cancer and was one of the largest community-based fundraising events for the Irish Cancer Society last year. Penny McGowan was presented with the 'I Care About The Community' award by President Mary McAleese at the Ireland Involved Awards in November 2009. The Kells Pink Ribbon Walk was also shortlisted for Charity of the Year. The walk was the brainchild of a group of local Kells women, some of whom have survived breast cancer themselves. Two other breast cancer survivors from Meath - Geraldine Jennings from Julianstown and Colette Magnone from Enfield - both did media interviews to help publicise the Kells Walk. Both Geraldine and Colette attended the walk on the day and each brought a gang of friends along to participate. The 600 runners and walkers came from 10 counties nationwide, with all four provinces represented. Entrants quenched their thirst with up to 2,000 free bottles of water during and after the event, as well as demolishing some 600 burgers and 600 ice creams after crossing the finish line! Participants wrote the name of the person or people who inspired them to take part in the walk on pieces of ribbon, which were then hung on a clothesline - over 700 metres of pink ribbon were used.