By Staff Reporter

Elderly support charity Alone is calling on the women of Dublin to participate in the VHI Women’s Mini Marathon to raise money for its vital services for vulnerable older people. 

This year the VHI Women’s Mini Marathon is taking place on the 6 June bank holiday, with participants as always running a 10km course throughout Dublin city centre.

Still the largest all-female event of its kind in the world, the VHI Women’s Mini Marathon is also the biggest single-day charity fundraiser in Ireland.

“We would like women from around the county to pledge their support to the older people in our communities,” said Alone chief executive Sean Moynihan. “All proceeds from this year’s race will go towards vital befriending services for vulnerable older people throughout Ireland.”

Alone’s service provides companionship to older people who are socially isolated through a weekly volunteer visit.

“We are continually developing the service to ensure that all older people who require it will have access to a quality-assured befriending service,” added Moynihan.

Alone is the first Irish organisation to receive the internationally recognised standard Quality in Befriending Award from Befriending Networks Ltd in Scotland after an accreditation process that covers nine areas from volunteer recruitment and vetting to training and supervision.

Registration for the VHI Women’s Mini Marathon will open on 17 February 2016 at vhiwomensminimarathon.ie. For more information about how you can help fundraise for Alone and to receive a dedicated Mini Marathon pack, contact Alone at fundraising@alone.ie or 01 679 1032.