Three athletic Inishowen men are on a marathon mission to raise funds for charity.

Shane Doherty, a carpenter from Sledrin in Buncrana, Richard McElroy, an environmental engineer from Cockhill and David McEleney, a software engineer from Fahan will run the world-renowned 26.2 mile-long New York Marathon on November 2 in aid of the Croí Cardiology Foundation.

The trio, who live and work together in Dublin, will travel to America on 31 October in order to take part in the run – which has been dubbed “one of the world’s greatest road races.”

The marathon typically attracts 100,000 applicants, two million spectators along the route and a worldwide audience of 315 million television viewers, but they are not fazed, as, says David, it is something they have ‘always wanted to do”.

Shane, who took part in last year’s Dublin Marathon, first instigated the idea. 

When the decision to take part in the New York Marathon was made, the trio set about finding a charity they could help, and were highly impressed with Croí’s work.

The heart charity is dedicated to pursuing and attaining the highest level of Cardiovascular Health Care for people living here in the West of Ireland.

Its work includes community health promotion and education initiatives, community cardiac rehabilitation, cardiovascular disease prevention, CPR training and public and community access defibrillation, research, training bursuries and cardiac ambulance development. 

The charity also conduct research into Sudden Adult Death Syndrome which is “one of the main reasons” why the Inishowen men chose the charity.

The trio are now rigourously training for the event.

“We train three nights a week mostly. It makes it easier that we all live together and keep each other motivated. We’re all really looking forward to it,” says Shane.

They have also launched a fundraising drive for the charity and need to raise 13,500 euro between the three of them before they embark on their trip. A number of entertaining fundraising events have been lined up for the coming weeks. The first is a Night at the Races in O’Flaherty’s Bar in Buncrana this Friday, October 3 at 9pm.

Then, on Saturday October 11, popular group Purple Hill will play live at The Passion Fruit Club at The Tavern in Fahan. Shane, David and Richard would “love to see everyone at both events.” 

A draw will take place at the gig in the Tavern for a number of fantastic prizes including two tickets to see Coldplay perform at the 02 Arena in Dublin in December, a 100 euro voucher for the Inishowen Gateway Hotel, a voucher for a meal at the Tavern, bottles of wine and more.

The three men said they have already received “huge support” from many local people and businesses in the area and wish to thank all those who have contributed generously so far.