Teen Dillon preparing for his ‘biggest challenge yet’
Maisie Mould
Dillon Lynch, a 17 year old from Kildorrery, is taking on a record-breaking mountain climbing challenge in aid of Barretstown.
On 11 July, Dillon will begin his “biggest challenge yet” by climbing to the highest point of each of Ireland’s 32 counties in turn, with the goal of beating the current national record for this feat. This will involve running 160km in total, including over 8km of climbing, in under two-and-a-quarter days.
“I am feeling very confident,” said Dillon of his upcoming challenge.
Recent training has proved promising for his record-breaking goal of under 53 hours and 13 minutes, with practice runs coming in under predicted times.
Dillon is no stranger to hill climbing and running, but began training in earnest for this challenge back in February. At the same time, he has been practicing for his black belt in karate, which he hopes to achieve this week.
Dillon will be completing the challenge with the support of his dad, who will be driving him to and from each location. Skoda Ireland have offered their support by sponsoring them with a car for the challenge.
A rush of community support has come Dillon’s way from several local businesses and companies like School Fitness Ireland, who are sponsoring him with shoes.
“It’s amazing to see all the support come in,” he said.
Dillon would be “elated” if he was to beat the current record but said there were “two parts” to the goal – the second being to fundraise for Barretstown.
Barretstown is a charity that offers free, specially designed camps and programmes for children and their families living with serious illness. He has collected €986 for the charity so far.
“I am quite lucky that I am able to go out and do all of these things, and that I have the fitness and the health to do it,” he said, “other people my age, other children, wouldn’t have the chance to go out and do what they want because they’re held back by their health.”
“By helping Barretstown I’m helping bring a bit of fun back into their lives.”
The feat will begin in Mweelrea in Mayo, travel anti-clockwise around the country and finish up at Mount Errigal in Donegal. Along the way, Dillon will be scaling Slieve Donard in Down, and the highest peak in Ireland - Carrauntoohil of Kerry.
From 11 July, Dillon’s progress can be tracked live through ‘Dillon’s Adventures’ on all main social media platforms, and his website of the same name, through which links to the fundraising page can be found.