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BY CPL NEIL RICHARDSON (56 RES INF BN)
City Marathon. Like many of their fellow runners, John and Eoghan were participating in order to raise money for charity: unlike their fellow runners the pair of reserv- ists were wearing uniform, boots, helmet, webbing and backpack, having received permission to represent the RDF. This made it a marathon with a difference for the two NCOs, who were participating to raise money for Pieta House (the Centre for the Prevention of Self-Harm or Sui- cide) and Aspen Counselling Services, both based in Lucan, Co. Dublin. The idea of marching the marathon in uniform with kit
O
n Monday 31 October 2011 two RDF NCOs, Cpl John Carroll (Sp Coy, 65 Res Inf Bn) and Cpl Eoghan Mc- Namara (62 Res Eng Coy), took part in the Dublin
started when John decided to do it for the 2010 marathon. "I just thought it might be a good way to promote the Re- serve while at the same time raising money for a worthy cause," says John. "I got permission to wear my uniform
An Cosantóir May 2012 www.dfmagazine.ie
Counselling Services as their charities John said that the wife of a sergeant from his unit is a co-runner of Aspen Counselling, and Pieta House is a well known name in sui- cide prevention. "What really decided us, however," he says, "was that the sergeant's best friend tragically committed suicide, so we decided to focus our efforts on raising money for suicide prevention and awareness." The RDF pair went to great lengths to reach their goal of raising €5,000. Along with setting up a mycharity.ie
currently a student on the 2011/2012 RDF Potential Officers course, raised €5,200 in the marathon that year for the Hun- tington's Disease Association of Ireland. This year Eoghan, a mechanical engineer, who met John when they were both students on their RDF Potential NCOs course back in 2008, signed up to march with him in this year's event. When asked why they chose Pieta House and Aspen
and it was a great experience." John, an operations administrator in civilian life, who is
