With a week to go before Gary Lavelle takes on an arduous three-peak hillwalking challenge in Åre, the Achill Island native now living in Sigtuna has almost reached his sponsorship goal, and he is hoping that generous members of the Irish community will help him get over the top to help families in need.
The charity was set up in memory of Gearóid Murphy from Achill who passed away after suffering from cancer, and a similar event will take place on the island on May 27, the same day Gary will set out in Åre.
Gearóid was famous for his smile, and his family and community have honoured his memory ever since by doing their best to help others in similar situations.
“This is something that is done every year in Achill, so I decided that it’s something I’d like to try here, and the response has been brilliant. The total height of the three peaks is 3277 metres so we’ve set a target of €3277, and we want to use the money to send a family in need to Legoland in Denmark,” Gary told Irish In Sweden.
Gearóids Smile have provided a number of much-needed services to families in the west of Ireland, holding annual toy drives, donating equipment and raising money to employ play therapists in children’s hospitals, and they also provide therapeutic respite to families.
“I became a parent myself a few years ago and it’s hard to imagine what some families have to go through, so the ambition is to raise as much as possible to help out,” Gary says.
Gary has recently set up as a quantity surveyor in Sweden and has been keeping busy with a variety of projects in Stockholm, Västerås and Gävle among others, and he is hoping that some of the successful Irish companies operating here might back his charity drive by agreeing to pay for flights or accommodation for a family at Legoland.
“The Legoland idea came to me because it’s one of those dream destinations for many children, and if a company operating here could help out It would be a great way of giving back to the community,” Gary explained.
This week saw the welcome news that Gary will be joined on the challenge by his sister Jennifer, who will provide some much-needed company on what promises to be a long day of hillwalking.
The siblings are aiming to conquer Mullfjället, Åreskutan and Totthulmen in the course of the day, and Gary has been out training in the forest trails around Sigtuna in preparation for the event.
Owner of multiple medals from the Nordic Gaelic Football Championship and a keen soccer player, Gary is no stranger to a physical challenge.
“I’m looking forward to it – hopefully the weather will be good and we can raise a good sum of money that will help a family in need at a difficult time,” Gary says.
If you would like to donate to the GoFundMe for the event, you can do so here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/amazing-gearoids-three-peak-challenge-sweden
Corporate sponsors can also email gary [at] qskonsult.se to arrange for donations.