Limerick Teen Chris O’Connor Runs 100km to Honor Late Father

A 17-year-old from Limerick, Ireland, is set to undertake a remarkable challenge to honor the memory of his father, who passed away while climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. Chris O’Connor will run 100 kilometers to raise funds for the charity that built a school in Sierra Leone in his father’s name. James O’Connor, a well-regarded chef, tragically died on his 40th birthday due to altitude sickness, just moments from reaching the summit of the mountain.

Chris, who shares his father’s birthday, is determined to continue his legacy. He aims to raise €5,000 for the Schools Health Foundation, which provides educational support in Sierra Leone, and for the Limerick-based Children’s Grief Centre, an organization that helped him and his siblings cope after their father’s sudden passing.

Preparing for the Challenge

On Saturday, November 29, 2023, just a week before turning 18, Chris will commence his run from Dooradoyle, Limerick, with the goal of reaching St Catherine’s Graveyard in Kilcully, Cork, where his father is laid to rest. The journey is expected to take between 12 and 14 hours. Chris has a deep passion for running, which he inherited from his father. This year alone, he has completed several races, including the Great Limerick Run relay marathon, the Cork Marathon, and the Kerry Way Ultra marathon.

Chris explained that the idea of running to his father’s grave emerged after his mother, Grace O’Connor, suggested it. They calculated the distance from their home to the graveyard and realized it was a fitting way to honor his father’s memory. “I had thought about doing this before. Now I had put in the work to do marathons and ultramarathons, I decided it was something I could think about doing,” Chris stated.

Grace O’Connor has meticulously planned a route that avoids busy motorways, ensuring Chris’s safety during his journey. He will take breaks in towns such as Croom, Charleville, Buttevant, Mallow, and Whitechurch, where friends and family will join him for support along the way.

A Family’s Tribute

Grace is immensely proud of Chris’s dedication. “His training is amazing. I am at home cooking Sunday dinner, and he is out running marathons,” she noted. In preparation for this grueling challenge, Chris has been running distances between 32 km and 60 km in recent weeks. His rigorous schedule includes school, after-school study, and evening training sessions.

“Every day, he gets up, he goes to school, he does after-school study as he has his Leaving Certificate this year. That doesn’t finish until 18:00. I’d pick him up, then he’d have a bite to eat, then he’d go for a run and then to the gym,” Grace elaborated. She highlighted Chris’s relentless commitment, recalling how he braved inclement weather to stay on track with his training.

Chris recognizes the profound impact his father’s teachings have had on his life. He remarked, “Everything Chris has done, he is representing the whole family. It has kept me going, it has kept my mind going, it has helped me through my grief.”

His father, James, was known for his warmth and humor, despite his strict nature. Grace shared fond memories, stating, “He was just a big kid. He’d come in, and be constantly cracking jokes. He was a great dad.”

As part of his father’s legacy, a trophy named after James has been established for an annual 10 km fun-run in Cork. Additionally, the family plans to fundraise for Chris’s sister, Lilly, to visit the school in Sierra Leone next year, allowing them to continue their father’s charitable spirit.

For Chris, this run is just the beginning of honoring his father’s memory. “I’m very grateful to have the opportunity and be in a place where I can honor him with this. It’s only the beginning for me,” he concluded.

To support Chris’s fundraising efforts, donations can be made through his campaign at https://tinyurl.com/32k8tthy.