Irish humanitarian aid agency GOAL has launched this year’s hugely popular Christmas fundraiser, the GOAL Mile.
The annual event sees people across Ireland and abroad over the Christmas holidays to run, jog or walk a mile in support of vulnerable communities across 14 countries where GOAL works in Africa, the Middle East and Latin America.
This year’s GOAL Mile is supported by AIB in the first of an exciting new three-year partnership, announced just last month.
The event this year is also the first time that both in-person and virtual GOAL Miles are taking place following the move online due to the pandemic.
Prior to COVID, over 170 GOAL Miles were organised across Ireland, with approximately 50,000 people raising over €250,000in 2019.
GOAL’s Director of Fundraising and Marketing, Eamon Sharkey, sees the option of physical or virtual GOAL Miles as an opportunity to connect even more people with their communities, the Irish diaspora and GOAL’s work this Christmas.
“We are so excited to re-connect with people in-person this Christmas. For many people, it will have been two years since they were last with family, friends and neighbours, and we hope the GOAL Mile can play a part in bringing people together as we come out of such a challenging period,” he said.
“Of course, there are many people around the world who still can’t be at home or take part in physical events this Christmas. That is why we are delighted to also be encouraging virtual GOAL Miles once again.
“Last year people from every corner of the world took part to make it a truly global event, and we would love to see that become a part of the longstanding tradition of the GOAL Mile.”
GOAL CEO Siobhan Walsh hopes to reach more communities throughout Ireland and across the globe with the GOAL Mile.
“Hundreds of communities across Ireland already know and love the GOAL Mile,” said Ms. Walsh.
“They show incredible compassion for communities in need across the world that this event supports. GOAL helped more than 14 million people in Africa, the Middle East and Latin America last year. We could not have achieved this without the continued support of the Irish people.”
“We look forward to AIB’s 9,000+ staff and wide customer base standing with GOAL as we continue our mission to help communities to respond to and recover from humanitarian crises.”
Registration is now open at www.goalmile.org.
