The Pilots Township Run started on Sunday 6th September at the Giant’s Causeway for the Niall Mellon Township Trust, which builds homes for families living in shacks in the townships of South Africa.  Over 50 Aer Lingus Pilots are putting on their running shoes for the charity in Ireland’s longest run, which will take seven days and cover 460 miles in total, finishing in Mizen Head in Cork on Saturday 12th September.  
 
The run will be passing through Antrim, Down, Louth, Dublin, Wicklow, Carlow, Kilkenny, Tipperary and will finish in Cork on Saturday 12th September. The charity is asking those living along the route to get out and get involved!  The run is based on people achieving a 10 minute mile, allowing 1hr 40 minutes for each leg with a target completion of 60 to 70 miles per day.  The purpose of the run is to raise funds to help the charity build homes for children living in shacks in the township of Wallacedene, Cape Town, South Africa.  If you live in any of these areas make sure you cheer them on by shaking a leg or a bucket! For more information log onto: www.nmtownshiptrust.com <http://www.nmtownshiptrust.com> .
 
Pilots Township Run organiser, Captain Donal Young said: “This will be the longest run in Ireland this year. We are delighted to be involved with the Niall Mellon Township Trust having heard about the wonderful work they do from friends of ours who have been on their Building Blitzes.  The charity has a year round house building programme and it is the largest charity provider of quality social housing in South Africa having built more than12,000 homes for families living there.  We want to help them raise money to continue their work for impoverished families living in shacks.  Anyone with a reasonable level of fitness can still sign up and join the Aer Lingus Pilots and the Niall Mellon Township Trust in the most ambitious charity event in Ireland this year!
 
Niall Mellon, founder of the Niall Mellon Township Trust said: “Aer Lingus is actively supporting the work of the Niall Mellon Trust by organising an on board collection during the week of the run on all their shorthaul flights and we would ask people to give generously.  The Trust was set up in 2002, to build houses for the poorest and most marginalised communities living in the townships of South Africa.  The Pilots are running this “marathon of hope” from the Giant’s Causeway to Mizen Head to raise money for the Niall Mellon Township Trust.  The exemplary effort made by the pilots in helping organise this event is second to none, we are honoured that the pilots have selected our charity as their charity of choice for this year’s run. It has been a great privilege for us to work alongside them for this event and I would urge people to dig deep and give generously.  People can also assist by either running or collecting on route.”
 
Each runner needs to raise £80.00 to participate in the event.  
 
For further information on the run please contact Mairead Mangan on 00353 1 4948200, information is also available on http://www.irishtownship.com