Run & Walk For Life 2025

The Solas Cancer Support Centre’s Run and Walk for Life returns to the streets of Waterford City on Sunday 12th October and Dungarvan’s Greenway on Saturday 11th October.

The 10K Run and Walk in Dungarvan starts at 10am on Saturday 11th October at Walton Park. The 10k Run and Walk on Sunday 12th October starts at 10.00am on the Quay in Waterford City. The popular 4K walk will also be available this year to both Waterford and Dungarvan, encouraging families to take part in tandem with the 10K routes. A virtual option is also available and workplaces are being encouraged to once again #GoOrangeForSolas.

Tracy McDaid, Manager of the Solas Cancer Support Centre, explains what this annual event means to the charity:

The Run and Walk for Life is the most action-packed and exciting weekend of the year for the Solas Cancer Support Centre. The Run and Walk for Life is our main fundraiser annually and funds our weekly support services. These services include complementary therapy, counselling, life coaching, acupuncture, wellness class, support group and information sessions.

Over 8,900 one-to-one support sessions were delivered by Solas Cancer Support Centre in 2024. Last year, the Run and Walk for Life event raised €185,000. These funds went towards supporting the running costs of the service, which will cost over €1.1 Million to operate in 2025.

Speaking at the launch, Gwen Daniels, General Manager, UPMC Whitfield Hospital, said;

UPMC has been the proud sponsor of the iconic Run and Walk for Life orange T shirts since 2020. This year, in a bold move to start a conversation about men engaging with support services, we are pleased to announce that 27% of the T shirts this year will be dark blue. This figure represents the percentage of male clients who engage with Solas each year. A far cry from the national split of 50% men for all registered cancer cases. We hope that the image of 27% blue T shirts and 73% orange T shirts will show this disparity and encourage men to seek support, when the time is right for them during their cancer journey.

This year sees WLR FM return as a media partner and Michael Byrne, CEO of WLR FM explains the strong links that exist with the radio station:

WLR is proud to be supporting the Run and Walk for Life again this year. It’s one of those events that brings out the very best of Waterford spirit. It’s always something to look forward to. At WLR, we’re closely connected with Solas and we see first-hand the work of the entire team as it continues to be a source of strength for so many. Well done to everyone working behind the scenes, and WLR will be keeping listeners updated every step of the way in the lead-up to this year’s event.

In launching this year’s event a very special piece of sand art was commissioned, where the 2025 Run and Walk for Life logo was brought to life on the beach of Kilmurrin Cove. The participants of the weekly Men’s Support Group were out in force to assist artist Sean Corcoran to undertake this project. Liam Dowdall spoke about what the Men’s Group means to all the participants:

We meet each Tuesday morning in the Solas Cancer Support Centre and the peer support is great. We don’t always talk about cancer, some days it's not even mentioned, but just to know there are others here who understand what you are going through is very important. Today we are here helping to bring the 2025 Run and Walk for Life logo to life in the sand. It's great to be involved with this together and great to enjoy such a different Tuesday morning Group

Registration is now open online. The registration fee is €25 per adult and €15 per child. This fee includes a t-shirt and an event medal, kindly sponsored by Eirgen Pharma.

Join the sea of orange!

REGISTER HERE NOW