Lord Mayor's medal for Keith Russell

Lord Mayor of Dublin Nial Ring in conjunction with the organisers of the SSE Airtricity Dublin Marathon are honoured to announce Navan AC's Keith Russell as the winner of the 2018 Lord Mayor’s Medal. 

Twelve months ago Keith’s daughter Alanna Russell was the youngest-ever competitor in the Dublin Marathon, when her devoted dad pushed her along the course in in her specially adapted wheelchair.

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

Despite her condition, Alanna took on a new lease of life when out running with her dad Keith. 

In preparation for last year’s Dublin Marathon, they managed to raise nearly €65,000 to buy a new minibus for the Meadows Respite Centre in Navan, which Alanna attended.

Sadly, Alanna passed away unexpectedly last December and Keith, despite this tragedy has shown incredible courage and determination to run the Dublin Marathon once again this year in memory of his dear daughter.

The new mini-bus was presented to the Meadows Respite Centre last July by Keith and his family 

“Each and every runner that partakes in the SSE Airtricity Dublin Marathon has an inspirational story behind their journey to the 26.2mile finish line," stated the Lord Mayor. 

"The Lord Mayor’s Medal is about celebrating one runner who has had a particularly challenging journey to compete in the 2018 Dublin Marathon.   

"Keith Russell is a worthy recipient of this year’s Lord Mayor’s Medal.  

"He is a truly inspiring character  who has dealt with the terrible tragedy of the passing of his daughter, and has since pushed himself mentally and physically to compete at this year’s Marathon in memory of Alanna," he added.