BELFAST marathon is taking place on Sunday May 5 and staff from the IntoMedia Group are taking part to fundraise in memory of three colleagues who died last year.
Around 5,500 runners have signed up for the main event, making it the biggest Belfast City marathon to date, with 12,500 relay participants also ready to clock up the miles.
This year’s marathon has special meaning for IntoMedia as the company, which owns the Irish News and Q Radio, has 27 employees taking part in memory of three longstanding Irish News employees who died last year. To honour the memory of Hugh Russell, Dawn Egan and Lorraine McCarthy and to fundraise for charities chosen by their families, 27 of their colleagues have entered the relay and eight-mile walk.
- Noel Doran: The story of Hugh Russell is based in loveOpens in new window
- 'We were lucky we knew her' - Irish News journalist Dawn Egan remembered as 'brave and courageous woman'Opens in new window
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Hugh and Dawn’s families have chosen Macmillan Cancer Support, and Lorraine’s family has chosen Medical Aid for Palestine.
IntoMedia aims to raise £1,500 and you will be able to spot our runners and walkers in the crowd because they will be wearing bespoke jerseys provided by McKeever Sportswear.
To donate in support of their efforts click here.
Last year’s winners, Mohamed Oumaarir and Shewaye Woldemeskel, will be hoping to defend their respective male and female titles.
Alongside the 5,500 marathon runners, 12,500 relay runners have registered and there will be another 1,200 people participating in the eight-mile walk, making it Northern Ireland’s largest sports participatory event.
The 2023 marathon was the first Belfast City Marathon that had world road race status and remains the only marathon in Ireland in this category.
