Over twenty five thousand people will be jumping into the runners this Christmas to run a mile for the charity GOAL.

They will be helping GOAL’s humanitarian programes in fourteen countries and having the craic as they do so.

Since the first GOAL Mile in Phoenix Park on Christmas Day in 1992 the event has blossomed into a fond tradition for so many and with so many taking up the jogging over lockdown this year will surely be the biggest yet. 

The one mile run usually takes place on Christmas morning or St Stephen’s Day but some also head out on  the 27th.

From the University of Limerick Athletics track to the Castledaly GAA grounds in Westmeath there are now 160 locations around the country.

Check out www.goalmile.org to find a location near you.

Siobhán Walsh, CEO of GOAL said The Goal Mile is a fantastic way to bring people together during the holidays and have some fun while supporting our Irish-born humanitarian aid agency. 

History 

The first GOAL Mile took place in 1982 when the late Noel Carroll, an international athlete himself, and GOAL founder John O’Shea asked local people and their families to run a mile at The Phoenix Park on Christmas morning for GOAL.

Over 250 people rocked up and the next year the event moved to Belfield, University College Dublin. 

The bad news is Belfield is no longer a venue but the good news is there are now so many locations around Dublin and around the country, there is bound to be one near you and if not why not set one up?

There is nothing like getting out in the fresh air to get ready for the feeding frenzy of Christmas lunch and it’s a lovely tradition to have.

It is only a mile, you can always walk it, and, as we know at Christmas FM, raising money for others in need will always put a spring in your step.