Yearly Cheetah Run is spot on!
“The giraffes, ostriches and zebras always take a particular interest on the start line, but you will also run past the cheetahs, monkey islands, the Asian Sanctuary and so much more.”
Those were the words of the organisers of the upcoming and popular Eagle AC Cheetah Run taking place around Fota Wildlife Park next month.
The race was launched on Tuesday by Ryan Creech of Leevale Athletic Club and juvenile athletes Freya and Nellie Bateman of Belgooly AC and will be held on 16 May, raising funds for Fota Wildlife Park, which is a conservation charity.
Last year, the entries raised €5,500, which Fota Wildlife Park donated to the Giraffe Conservation Foundation.
Karen Bevan, one of the Eagle AC race directors alongside Ruairi Egan, said: “We’re delighted to announce the annual Cheetah Run at Fota. The Cheetah Run is always a fast-selling event, which offers a truly unique experience to run a 5k race (adults and those aged 16 and above) or a 1 mile race for those aged 11-15 years, within Fota Wildlife Park. It truly is a race like no other, and one to be experienced.”
They added: “This year we are delighted to be joined by three fantastic athletes to launch both our 5k and the juvenile 1 mile event. Ryan Creech is an inspirational Leevale AC athlete and is one of Ireland's top distance runners. With his sights set on a place in the Paris Olympics 2024, we are incredibly grateful to Ryan for taking the time out of his busy schedule to promote our Cheetah Run 5k event. Freya and Nellie Bateman are sisters who are rising stars in athletics, and we are thrilled that they have agreed to promote our Cheetah 1 mile event for those aged 11-15 years old.”
Sean McKeown, Director of Fota Wildlife Park said: “Through the yearly Cheetah Run, Eagle AC makes an invaluable contribution supporting the essential conservation efforts at Fota Wildlife Park and we are delighted to host it. This year the teas, coffees and prize giving ceremony will take place in the brand-new Education Conservation and Research Centre. This is an exciting opportunity to see the most recent and extremely impressive developments here at Fota Wildlife Park.”
Registration for the Cheetah Run 2024 opens on Sunday 7 April at 9am at Eventmaster.ie.