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Con puts best 'bare' foot forward
29.10.10
by Eamonn MacDermott, Inishowen Independent
NEWTOWN man Con Holmes will brave the cold and damp
roads of Inishowen this Halloween for a daunting
walk for charity. Con plans to walk from Bridgend to
Coyle’s Bar in Newtowncunningham on Sunday, October
31 and, just to make things interesting, he plans to
do it barefoot. He will undertake the walk beginning
at 11am and hopes to cover the 11 kilometres to
Coyle’s in double-quick time.
Con is hoping that his commitment and endurance will
encourage people to sponsor him and help him to
raise funds for the local community.
Dismissing the notion that he is mad to try the walk
Con said: “It doesn’t bother me about being
considered ‘a bit crazy’ for going barefoot in
public? We are all a bit eccentric or a little
weird, so what?
“Nearly all of us have our own idiosyncrasies that
make us different from each other and who we are.
“It's no big deal to be different and anyone who
wants to throw their shoes off is more than welcome
to join me “People are welcome to join me even if
they keep there shoes on.” |
He added: “I walk for
the pleasure of being out in the fresh air, plus
keeping fit and healthy. It is an enjoyable pastime.
My walks often take me along the Glar road, where I
live, towards the back shore. It is usually quiet
and peaceful with very little traffic as it is a cul
de sac.”
The Newtown man continued: “Currently in NCDI, we
are taking a fresh look at our past history and how
it has affected our cultures here in
Newtowncunningham, and surrounding area.
“Much of this history is of harsh times but there is
also lovely tales of human achievement and endurance
and now these mix with recollections of more recent
and happy memories of my own.
“I remember my father, saying |
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Con Holmes who will walk barefoot
from Bridgend to Newtown on October 31 to raise
money for Newtown Community Development Initiative (NCDI)
and the North West Breast Unit at Letterkenny
Hospital. |
about when he was
young, that he never wore shoes until he was in his
early teens.
“He said that many people never wore shoes the whole
year round. I found that story amazing, particularly
in our very cold wet winter seasons.
“I also remember as children, on fine days, we would
often take off our own shoes on our way to school
and hide them until our return home as this carryon
was slightly frowned upon by our mother.”
Con said the idea for a barefoot sponsored walk came
after he started walking about with no shoes on
himself.
He said: “One fine day, in summer, while I was out
on one of my walks, I decided to try walking bare
foot. And, guess what? I did actually fine it
pleasant.
“But it was the shocked reaction from people, which
prompted me to think of the possibility of a
sponsored walk as a fundraiser event. It was novel,
as I too, had not heard of this sort of ‘ loopy
behaviour’ elsewhere, in Ireland.”
Con revealed he has never actually walked more than
5km barefoot before but is confident he can complete
the walk.
All money raised will go towards Newtown Community
Development Initiative and the North West Breast
Unit at Letterkenny General Hospital. |
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