By Owen Ryan
FIVE teenage members of North Clare’s No Name Club, will, together with the club’s chairperson, climb Kilimanjaro in August, in association with the Kilimanjaro Achievers.
The teens taking part are Dominic Talty, Declan Burke, Aisling Talty, Naomi Harvey and Rachel Harvey, while the club chairperson is Edel Harvey. As well as physically preparing for the climb, they are also raising funds for the charity in Tanzania.
Each year, the Kilimanjaro Achievers focus on two charitable projects within the country and this year they are raising funds to expand an orphanage’s school in Cheti and to sponsor some children at the orphanage.
As part of the trip the No Name Club group will visit Cheti and help out for a few days at the school, gaining first hand experience of volunteering with a charity abroad.
The No Name Club is a youth club specifically designed for teenagers from the ages of 15, which aims to cater for the gap between the Junior Cert and Leaving Cert. It enables young people to organise and enjoy a positive alternative to alcohol and drug centred activities, building self-confidence and increase awareness of the effects of alcohol and drugs, thus helping young people make informed choices when they are older.
The North Clare No Name Club was established last year, with its base in Lahinch and is still welcoming new members to this day from all parts of Clare.
A fundraiser for the project will take place on May 9 at The Falls Hotel in Ennistymon, entitled The Ultimate FireWalking Challenge. More information on it is available online at www.brianmoore.ie, while those interested in taking part should call Edel Harvey 085 7551721 or email jellytotsrocks@hotmail.com.
The following day, May 10, there will be a night at the dogs at Galway Greyhound Stadium. The aim of the event is to have a great community night for all ages and as well as buying tickets, people are being asked to support the venture by advertising on the night or sponsoring a race. People can also give support by advertising on the night of the firewalk.
A native of Ennis, Colin McGann has been editor of The Clare Champion since August 2020. Former editor of The Clare People, he is a journalism and communications graduate of Dublin Institute of Technology.