Jack and Jill Dad Barry McArdle Raises Almost €19,000 for Families Like His – Over Three Months Before the Irish Life Dublin Marathon
There are still over three months to go until the 2026 Irish Life Dublin Marathon, but one Jack and Jill family has already achieved something truly remarkable.
Jack and Jill Dad Barry McArdle has raised almost €19,000 in support of the Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation as he prepares to take on his very first marathon this October.
Barry is running in honour of his daughter Jenna, who was diagnosed with Rett Syndrome in 2025. Jenna receives in-home nursing and respite care through Jack and Jill, giving her family precious support that allows Barry and his partner Sarah to care for Jenna at home while also making time for one another, and for Jenna’s younger sister, Veyda.
Together with family, friends and supporters, Barry’s fundraising efforts are already making an incredible difference to other Jack and Jill families caring for children with severe learning disabilities often associated with complex medical needs.
Reflecting on why he chose to run for Jack and Jill, Barry said:
“I’d love to see plenty of people jump on the saddle this July and join me to take in the unbelievable scenery the Kingdom has to offer – it’ll be worth the sore bottoms! I might need a push or two getting up the hills, but there’ll be plenty of craic along the way and it’s all for a brilliant cause. Every euro raised will go towards helping families who really need the support.”
Our CEO, Deirdre Walsh, paid tribute to Barry’s commitment:
“We are so grateful to Barry for taking on this incredible challenge in support of Jack and Jill. I am always in awe when families who have experienced our in-home nursing and respite care want to give something back so that other families, each facing their own unique challenges, can receive the same support. Barry is no stranger to taking on a challenge, and his determination to turn his family’s journey into hope for others is truly inspiring. We wish him every success with his training and look forward to cheering him across the finish line in October.”
Barry’s fundraising forms part of the wider Irish Life Dublin Marathon charity campaign, which has already generated more than €1.3 million for charities and community organisations across Ireland – an incredible milestone reached with over three months still to go before race day.
While that collective achievement is inspiring, Barry’s story is a powerful reminder that behind every fundraising page is a family, a child and a reason to keep going.
From all of us at Jack and Jill, thank you, Barry, and thank you to everyone who has donated, shared his story or cheered him on so far.
With months of training still ahead, we know Barry will continue to inspire many more people to get behind Jack and Jill and help ensure families like his can continue receiving the support they need, when they need it most.
If you’d like to support Barry on his marathon journey and help Jack and Jill continue providing vital in-home nursing and respite care to families across Ireland, you can donate to his fundraising page today.
Support Barry’s Irish Life Dublin Marathon fundraising effort
For the Irish Life Dublin Marathon main fundraising page, click here:
https://eventmaster.ie/fundraising/campaign/irish-life-dublin-marathon-2026-fundraising-campaign
