By Michelle Crean

The aim of this year's 54321 Challenge was to raise €100,000 and delighted organisers have exceeded that by €270!

CHEQUES: A number of cheques were given to charities from the 54321 Challenge. Pictured front l-r were: TJ O’Connor Orla O’Sullivan (Cystic Fibrosis) Caroline Danaher Alannah Foley (Alannah and Polly’s Fight for Sight) and Carol Moran. Back l-r were: Denis Daly Mary Fitzgerald (Comfort for Chemo) Kathleen Sheehy (ADAPT) Mary Horgan (Comfort for Chemo) Anne McCarthy Maura Sullivan (Kerry Hospice) ?????? (HeartBeat Killarney) Eoghan O’Grady (The Irish Pilgrimage Trust) Noreen Sheahan and Tomás Crowley (ADAPT).

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It was an amazing feat for the 50 participants who, over four days, completed three cycles, and climbed two mountains for local deserving charities in August. It brings the total raised to date by the Challenge to €400,250 supporting a number of very deserving Kerry charities over the years

The 54321 Challenge committee and participants came back together again on Friday night at Francie Sheahans in Killorglin to present the cheques to the 10 charities; The Irish Pilgrimage Trust, Kerry Hospice, Comfort for Chemo Kerry, ADAPT Kerry, Skellig Stars, Cystic Fibrosis Kerry, Sera Huskey, HeartBeat Killarney, Alannah and Polly’s Fight for Sight and Scoil Iognaid Ris Dingle.

Over 80% of this year’s participants had completed the challenge previously over the first nine years but a new participant added a fresh lease of life completed the entire challenge in just 22.5 hours.

Jamie O’Shea from Dromid, who had previously completed the challenge over four days, was elated when he knocked it out of the park.

A major contributor to this year’s fundraising efforts were a number of Spinathon Days including Killarney.

"On behalf of this year's 10 Kerry charities and the 54321 Challenge team, we would like to say thank you to all those who have sponsored and supported us along the way," , TJ O'Connor said.

“If the last few years has taught us anything, it is to be thankful for what we have, our health is our wealth, and the power of people working together can get us through some of the most difficult situations."

He also added that spending four days with such positive and enthusiastic people should be prescribed by doctors, as their positive energy was infectious and great for the heart and soul.