The Rock Runners running club were delighted with the success of for their first 10k/5k event held in Derrylin last Sunday run in tribute to the late Shane Mulholland with proceeds going to the Shane Mulholland Foundation.
The event attracted 101 10Kparticipants, 83 5K runners and 79 adult walkers. There were also in excess of 50 children thereby making over 300 participants. 
In what was undoubtedly an emotional day, Vannesa Mulholland, wife of the late Shane, thanked all who helped in any way.
She said: “On behalf of the Shane Mulholland Foundation we would like to thank Derrylin Rock Runners for all their hard work in the organisation of the recent 10/5k Walk and Run on Sunday in Derrylin. The run proved a great success and we greatly appreciate all the time and effort that went into organising and hosting the event. We would also like to sincerely thank all of those who participated in any way, the large attendance made it a throughly enjoyable and memorable day.”
Concepta Gilheaney added: “It was a great success for an event that was pulled together in a very short time frame. It started out as a low key event to celebrate the achievement of our first Couch to 5k runners and so in the last week in January we set the date for the 10k/5k for February 28. Then, it was agreed that it would fitting, in Shane’s honour, to offer any proceeds to his foundation, which like Rock Runners, also aims to develop sport in the local communities."
The Shane Mulholland Foundation plans to use all proceeds of this event and further planned events to build on Shane’s vision of developing hurling at underage level in the Fermanagh region and the running group are delighted to be able to offer Shane’s wife Vanessa, their daughter Aisling and Shane’s family this contribution in Shane’s memory.
Rock runners are now looking forward to welcoming total beginner runners from local communities to the next Couch to 5k programme with registration this week. For further details contact Roisin/John Mc Donnell (UK, Athletics Coach, Go Active Ireland) on 07817035630 or see their Facebook page.
The now established 5K runners and more advanced runners will continue to meet on Wednesday evenings at 7p.m. and Sunday mornings at 8.30a.m. and are looking forward to enjoying the lake and mountain views around Knockninny Rock in the brighter weather. 
The Shane Mulholland Foundation was created in October 2015 with a view to keeping Shane’s memory alive by continuing the good work he had already begun within hurling development.
The Mission Statement for the Foundation includes the words “Promote, Participate, Support and Encourage” and that is primarily what the Foundation is all about - specifically the promotion of Gaelic Games - hurling especially - at underage level throughout the local communities. 
Shane was due to start hurling training with the U10s in his local club Derrylin the day after he sadly passed away. It was something he was very passionate about and keen to get up and running. Unfortunately, there has been no one to stand in his place, or anyone with his coaching expertise, hurling knowledge and willingness to give up their time voluntarily to do this, so the coaching never began. It is this they hope, with the help of the Foundation to change. At the moment they are very much at the start of our fundraising campaign and hope to secure enough funding to appoint a coach or coaches within a number of areas initially, to help develop the game, provide equipment etc to schools & clubs as well as supporting  existing organisations. To date only two events have been run specifically for the Shane Mulholland Foundation - a Memorial Shoot and prize giving night - organised and held by Swanlinbar Gun Club, which was a great success and most recently the Rock Runners 10K/5K in Derrylin held a largely attended 10K/5K Walk or Run on Sunday 28th February. 
Further information on future events can be found on both Facebook and Twitter, with a new website coming soon.