Press Release
December 19, 2019 • 2 min read
CEO’s of Vodafone and AIB amongst hundreds to take part in the biggest corporate GOAL Mile to date
Irish business leaders took time out from their busy schedules to raise funds for vulnerable communities all over the world by taking part in a GOAL Mile, one of Ireland’s longest running festive fundraisers.
Among the leading lights from the business world who got out of the traps for the corporate GOAL Mile at Central Park in Leopardstown, Dublin, were Vodafone CEO and chair of GOAL Anne O’Leary, AIB CEO Colin Hunt, Ulster Bank CEO Jane Howard, CEO of Leopardstown Hospital Anne Maire O’Grady and Vice-President of Mastercard Olivia Leonard.
Irish rugby International Jordan Lamour and ex Munster rugby player Frankie Roche were on hand to do the warm-up before the group took off to run and jog their mile in freezing conditions.
Rugby star Jordan Larmour kicks off the first GOAL Mile in Central Park
Today’s GOAL Mile is one of more than 130 that will take place at venues all over Ireland over the Christmas and New Year period. Now in its 38th year, the GOAL Mile is one of Ireland’s largest and longest-running annual fundraising events and organisers are expecting record numbers to take part this year. They emphasised people can chose to walk, run or jog the mile.
The GOAL Mile is steeped in tradition with families and friends building it in as part of their Christmas routine every year.
Last year GOAL reached more than 5.5 million people in need in 13 countries all over the world. GOAL’s work includes supporting those displaced by the ongoing conflict in Syria; running nutrition programmes saving the lives of infants under six months in refugee camps in Ethiopia and providing ongoing emergency response to thousands of people affected by Cyclone Ida in Zimbabwe.
Speaking at today’s Corporate GOAL Mile Vodafone CEO and Chair of GOAL, Anne O’Leary, said: “The GOAL Mile is a very special tradition for families and communities all over Ireland during the Christmas period. It is a lovely way for people to come together, have some exercise and fun, and to raise money for a great cause at the same time. I am delighted to be involved.”
“Thanks to dedicated GOAL Mile organisers all over the country, millions of euros have been raised to support GOAL’s work in the developing world since the first Mile was staged in 1982. The beauty of the GOAL Mile is its simplicity. People don’t need to register in advance but simply show up to their nearest event, run, jog or walk a Mile and contribute whatever you can afford to GOAL on the day.”
All GOAL Miles are listed at goalmile.org with dates and times.
