June has begun her 21 in 21 challenge
June Butler, MU’s All Ireland President, has begun a walking challenge to raise funds for the charity’s ‘Mums in May’ fund.
21 in 21 will see June complete three 7km walks in each diocese in Ireland before the end of 2021. That’s a total of 252 kilometres or almost 160 miles.
“With current restrictions I’ve had to begin the walks close to my home in Northern Ireland, but I am hopeful that I’ll be able to travel to the Republic of Ireland by the summer. I’ll be accompanied by one other MU member (until restrictions relax) and we’ll have a short time of prayer at (or even in!) a church at the beginning and/or end of each walk.
“I began planning this back in 2019, long before anyone had heard of Covid–19, or the concept of “staycation” was prevalent, but seeing more of Ireland on foot will certainly be my holiday in 2021!”
Give and take part
Mums in May is an All–Ireland Fund which was established in 2012 in celebration of 125 years of MU in Ireland. The fund supports new and ongoing MU projects throughout Ireland as well as specific important overseas projects. It is replenished every third year so that MU can continue this important work. 2021 is the year.
The challenge has been issued to all MU Ireland members but the ‘21 in 21’ can be 21 yards, 21 laps, 21 furlongs, 21 kilometres, 21 miles or 21 something else…knit, sew, bake…the possibilities are endless!
You can sponsor June and the other MU members who take part through their ‘Just Giving’ page here: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/MumsinMay21
Follow June’s progress on the All–Ireland MU website here.
June, who is a parishioner of Saintfield Parish, is pictured with Saintfield Branch Leader, Marion Edwards as they set out on the first leg of the challenge on 24 March.