OREANDA-NEWS. June 27, 2016. Around 200 people took part in this year’s SSE Airtricity Tournafulla and Rathcahill Wind Farms Run in Templeglantine, Co. Limerick on Saturday 18 June. The event was part of the 2016 Global Wind Day celebrations.

Over €1,500 is expected to have been raised for local charity Blood Bike Mid West, between entry fees on the day and additional donations.

There were two distances for participants to choose from this year, with a new 10k route available in addition to the 5k course from last year’s event. Participants could run or walk the 5k track, while runners looking for a greater challenge could opt for the 10k course.

Both courses took participants along a scenic route between SSE Airtricity’s Tournafulla and Rathcahill Wind Farms in West Limerick. SSE Airtricity has a total of four wind farms in the region, which have a combined capacity of over 100MW and supply greener and cleaner energy to around 50,000 homes.

Blood Bike Mid West, the nominated charity for this year’s event, is a non-profit organisation based in Limerick and operating primarily in the Mid West region. It runs an out-of-hours service using volunteer motorcyclists to transport urgently needed blood, breast milk, patient records, drugs and other medical requirements between hospitals, hospices, clinics and blood transfusion banks.

Ken Driscoll from Blood Bike Mid West said:
“We’re delighted to have been selected as the nominated charity for this year’s SSE Airtricity Tournafulla and Rathcahill Wind Farms Run. Like SSE Airtricity, we endeavour to make a positive difference in our local communities. Our volunteers work out of hours, often at night, when most people are in their beds. This means that their fantastic contribution to the health care system often goes unnoticed, so we are truly honoured and very grateful to be chosen by SSE Airtricity. It’s important to say that 100% of all funds raised from the Wind Farms Run will go directly towards keeping up this life-saving service. Remember our next ride could be for you.”

SSE Airtricity Tournafulla and Rathcahill Site Operator, Sean Carter, said:
“I want to say a huge well done and thank you to all the runners, walkers and volunteers who made this year’s Wind Farms Run such a success. There was a great atmosphere and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. Most importantly, the event raised vital funds for Blood Bike Mid West, which is a fantastic local charity. At SSE Airtricity, we’re proud to make a positive difference to the communities in which we live and work, and that’s what the Wind Farms Run is all about.”

The SSE Airtricity employees on site donated their time to organising and running the event through the company’s Be the Difference programme. The programme gives every SSE employee the opportunity to take a day out of their usual schedule to volunteer for a charity or community event of their choice.