We’re calling on all fitness warriors to participate in a marathon or challenge to raise funds and awareness for Jack and Jill.
How you can help
Sign up for an upcoming challenge or marathon in your local area to support our Jack and Jill families nationwide
#TeamJackandJill #YouCanDoThis #WeAreInThisTogether
Become a Jack and Jill Marathon & Challenge Champion Today!
Are you ready to take on a challenge and make a real difference? Whether you’re lacing up your runners for a marathon, diving into a sea swim, conquering Hell & Back, or even braving a cold plunge at your local pool—we want YOU on our team!
Join the movement and become a Jack and Jill Champion by raising vital funds and awareness for the children and families we support across Ireland. Every step, splash, and stride you take helps us provide in-home nursing care and support for seriously ill children.
Not taking part? You can still make a huge impact!
Donate today and cheer on our incredible team of champions.
Together, we can go the distance. Together, we are #TeamJackandJill.
#TeamJackandJill #YouCanDoThis #WeAreInThisTogether
Why Choose Jack and Jill for Your Fundraising Efforts?
The 2025 Bucket List Challenge
Marathons are truly remarkable events, a dream come true for many participants, and an incredible opportunity to check off a bucket list goal, all while supporting a meaningful cause.
A Lifetime Experience
Running the marathon isn’t just about the race — it’s about creating unforgettable memories while pushing yourself physically and mentally. And knowing that every step you take is helping children and families in need makes the journey even more meaningful.
Raising Brand Awareness
Your participation helps us raise awareness of Jack and Jill and the crucial work we do. It’s a chance to engage new supporters and strengthen relationships with our current network, all while shining a spotlight on the importance of our services.
Take Part in a Challenge Below!
Our Marathon Champions
Alan
Hi, I’m Alan—a proud Limerick man who loves a challenge! Whether it’s trekking the Camino or running marathons.
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I’m always up for pushing myself, especially when it’s for a great cause.
This year, I’m taking on my latest challenge: the Dublin City Marathon 2025! Running is my passion—I hit the roads and the gym several times a week—but this race is about more than just personal achievement. I’m running to raise funds for the Jack and Jill Foundation, an incredible charity that provides in-home nursing care and respite for families in need. Their support made a life-changing difference for a family close to me, and I want to give back.
To help me reach my goal, I’ve also signed up for the Westport Marathon on April 5th as part of my training and fundraising efforts.
How You Can Help
Every €18 raised provides an hour of in-home nursing care. Any donation, big or small, will go directly toward supporting families who rely on this incredible service.
My Marathon Tips
Carb Load: The night before, stock up on pasta or rice.
Footwear Matters: Comfort is key—my go-to runners are Brooks Ghosts!
Race Day Fuel: Bring energy gels and jellies to keep your sugar levels up.
Everyone raves about the atmosphere at the Dublin City Marathon, and I can’t wait to experience it—the build-up, the buzz, and of course, crossing that finish line!
Thanks so much for your support—it truly means the world!
Bryan & Maire
We are two friends who love a challenge and are both easily influenced when it comes to raising money for charitable causes.
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Previously we’ve slept out in the pouring rain for homelessness, along with with freezing 29 minutes in the Atlantic for hospice. This is our biggest challenge yet!
Running is not really something we have done a lot of, both of us having only ever ran 10k once or twice which makes running the marathon more of a challenge both mentally and physically.
We are running in aid of the Jack and Jill foundation as it’s a charity very close to our hearts as Bryan’s niece Grace avails of the amazing services that Jack & Jill have to offer. Having witnessed firsthand the impact they have in Grace’s and her family’s life, it makes this challenge for 2025 all worthwhile.
We’re hoping to raise €5,000 throughout the year of 2025 by completing different challenges in the hope people will rally behind us and donate to this wonderful charity. The 3 mains challenges we have set ourselves are below:
- Freezbury challenge (swimming in the Atlantic everyday of February a minute for the date eg 1st Feb = 1min, 5th Feb = 5min, 28th Feb = 28mins)
- Running the Limerick City Half Marathon (running 21.1km for the very first time)
- Running the Dublin City Marathon (running 42.2km for the very first and LAST time)
There will be more challenges we will be looking to complete over the next few months and we have decided to document our journey on a shared Instagram page; bryan_maire_2025_challenges.
We have also joined a new local running club in Galway, Get better running Galway.
We have started to meet people who have ran marathons before, getting tips and hearing stories and having the craic while running too.
People who have completed the Dublin marathon all say the same about the atmosphere and how that gets you through a lot of the race which we’re both really looking forward to on the day.
Katie Lyons
My name is Katie Lyons, and I am beyond excited to be a 2025 Jack and Jill Mini Marathon Champion!
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Jack and Jill hold a special place in my heart. I have the privilege of being a Jack and Jill nurse for Oisín, and I started working with him when he was just six weeks old. Oisín will be turning 2 years old in the same month as the VHI Women’s Mini Marathon, making this an even more meaningful experience for me. I’ve witnessed firsthand how invaluable the services provided by Jack and Jill are to families, which makes my work so rewarding.
Jack and Jill now support over 400 families, and it is constantly growing. All funds raised directly benefit Jack and Jill families, giving them the invaluable ‘Gift of Time’ or our service is also referred as a ‘Lifeline’ to our families.
I’m especially looking forward to the 2025 VHI Women’s Mini Marathon! This will be my very first mini marathon, and while I’m feeling a little nervous, I’m excited to take on this challenge. I’ve even roped in a few friends to join me on the journey! When I’m not training, I love staying active and catching up with friends.
If you would like to support me and the families of Jack and Jill, I would be incredibly grateful for any donation you can make. Your contribution will directly benefit Jack and Jill families, helping them in ways that truly matter.
If you have registered to do the VHI Mini Marathon this year and have not chosen a charity, why not join us and become a Jack and Jill Marathon Hero!.
Thank you so much for your support!
Eve
I have decided to run for Jack and Jill to raise well-needed funds for them to continue all the fabulous work they do, it is a great motivator to run, while also supporting a great cause.
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It’s an opportunity to combine my passion for running with helping children get the care and support they need.
Jack and Jill have become very important in recent months as I have observed the work they do closer due to a family friend, and experienced the care and devotion that they give to those they work with. It’s personal to be able to give back to an organisation that has helped those close to me.
This year I will be running my 2nd full marathon, as well as two half marathons in preparation. I have already started the training and am enjoying it so far!!
I am excited and nervous about this challenge. This is my second marathon, so while I know what’s ahead, it can still be nerve-wracking and slightly exhilarating! Supporting such a worthy cause will also make it more worthwhile and motivating!
I enjoy training with dad and my partner. My dad has run for years, since he was young and he is an excellent coach and motivator. We all feel so lucky to be able to run together as a family and it is nice to think of families we can support while doing it. I enjoy listening to podcasts and some uplifting music along the route as well!
Rose
This will be my first time taking part in the VHI Mini Marathon, and while I’m excited, I’m also a bit nervous! I can’t wait to take on this challenge for such a worthy cause.
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I’ve been really enjoying my training, getting in some exercise most mornings. I love to stay active, and I’m a huge fan of country music, so you’ll often catch me working out to my favourite tunes. I also play football for my local G4M&O club, which is always a great way to stay fit and have fun!
If you’d like to support me on this journey, I would be incredibly grateful for any donation you can make. Every little contribution helps and can truly make a difference.
Harry and Lauren
Kilimanjaro has always been on my bucket list, to be honest when I saw a video on social media of someone summiting it for the first time I decided that day I was going to make it happen.
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What inspired you to take on the Kilimanjaro challenge?
Kilimanjaro has always been on my bucket list, to be honest when I saw a video on social media of someone summiting it for the first time I decided that day I was going to make it happen. Thankfully I have my girlfriend Lauren who also decided there and then to take the challenge on so it’s been something we’ve been looking forward to since we initially tried to make it happen late last summer.
How has the training journey been so far?
Trainings good so far, Lauren & I have both ran half marathons in the build up to the climb which not only physically helped us but also mentally prepared us for something like Kilimanjaro, something we have never done anything like before, besides cardio the main aim for myself at least was to build up my endurance which has gone well so far too.
What does this challenge mean to you personally?
Doing something like summiting Kilimanjaro (and subsequently going on a safari in Tanzania) has been something I’ve always wanted to do, thankfully there is an Irish company in Earths Edge who are great at helping make dreams like this a reality. I think getting to the top of the mountain and then reaping the rewards on the safari will be one of the most rewarding experiences ever, honestly though having the journey be a way of getting people to donate to The Jack and Jill Foundation has made it even more worthwhile than I could have imagined. The donations have been amazing so far and hopefully they continue when we head to Tanzania as it’s an incredible cause to donate to.
How are you preparing physically and mentally?
Mentally it hasn’t been too challenging as the donations, the safari afterwards and the overall adventure of it all has made it something to look forward to more than anything. Besides running and gym work the main prep has actually been things like visas, vaccines and finding the appropriate gear/clothing to bring with us, all of which Earths Edge have been great for helping us with.
What are you most looking forward to — and what are you most nervous about?
I’m looking forward to seeing Arusha when we first get there, meeting the locals who will be summiting with us, the views at and on the way to the summit and the safari afterwards!
Why is the cause you’re supporting important to you?
It’s a cause that people that I know have raised money for before and had sworn by, when I looked into it I understood why. The work The Jack and Jill Foundation do is incredible and having the opportunity to raise money for them has been amazing. Hopefully this is just the first of many opportunities for me to raise money for The Jack and Jill Foundation.
Hear from a previous Champion!
“I never did a marathon in my life and always said that I would like to do it, but the opportunity never came up until VHI. This was a fantastic opportunity to support a well-deserved charity and do the one thing I thought I never would do. This opportunity to support a fantastic charity gave me the courage to do this. It also made me happy that we were supporting this in the fundraising. As a mother of 5, I am delighted Jack and Jill do so much for the children and the parents and there are these services around to help where required. I was so pleased that I completed the mini marathon, and we raised the money I feel so go to give something back for such a worthy cause.”
– Andi
To Get In Touch
Phone: +353 45 894 538 or Email: [email protected]