Team Alanna bus presented ahead of Alanna 6k

Keith Russell, his wife Ruth and their children Fate, Riordan and Harry officially handed over the Team Alanna mini-bus to Clare Keane of the Navan-based Meadows Respite Centre in an emotional ceremony at 121 Fitness this morning.

The presentation precded the  inaugural Alanna Russell Memorial 6k Run and MC for the occasion was the well-known Frank Greally of Irish Runner Magazine.

There was also a special presentation from Navan AC to Ruth Russell to recognise her Woman's Way award that will be presented later.

The late Alanna Russell was a familiar sight with her dad at road races and athletics events around the county, but she passed away last December.

Addressing the crowd who turned up for the race and to support the event, Keith Russell remembered his daughter - "I think at times she used to be laughing at me when I was struggling in races, especially the Dublin Marathon, that's something I never thought I would complete," he said and his comments were greeted with genuine and spontaneous applause.

Alanna was the youngest participant in last year's Dublin City Marathon when her father pushed her specially-adapted buggy around the route as he endeavoured to raise funds for the purchase of the mini-bus.

Alanna, who was eight in December, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday 13th December, but she helped raise funds with her dad for the new mini-bus for the Meadows Respite Centre.

Alanna was born with spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy, with no speech or use of her arms and legs. 

She also had impaired vision and epilepsy and was one of twins when she was born nine weeks premature, her sister Isabelle died shortly before birth.

The Alanna Russell 6k t-shirt will become a collector's item remarked Frank Greally.

See the next edition of the Meath Chronicle for photos and details from the event and also about Ruth Russell's award..

WATCH VIDEO CLIP OF SPEECH AND PRESENTATION