Louth woman returns to the Great Ethiopian Run to raise funds for vital sight-saving work

Deirdre McTeggart (nee Byrne) from Drogheda will take to the streets of Addis Ababa in November, along with over 40,000 runners in the Great Ethiopian Run, the biggest in Africa. 

Getting ready for this year’s Great Ethiopian Run Deirdre said: "My first journey to Ethiopia with Orbis in 2019 was extraordinary.

"Returning this year, I'm thrilled to create new memories at the vibrant Great Ethiopian Run.

"I'm equally eager to revisit Orbis Ireland's impactful projects, advancing the eye care system in Ethiopia and making a lasting difference.

"I have received amazing support from the community through fundraising events such as music nights and basketball tournaments. Thank you to everyone who has supported me and Orbis Ireland."

In total 65 Irish runners from counties all over Ireland are taking part in The Great Ethiopian Run in an effort to raise funds for sight-saving work in the country on Sunday, 19th November. 

Since 2008, Orbis Ireland has brought over 500 participants to Addis Ababa for the run and to visit life-saving eye care projects in southern Ethiopia. Together, they have raised over €1,000,000 for the sight-saving work in Ethiopia.

The Great Ethiopian Run is a 10km race that will see members of the Orbis team line up alongside over 40,000 competitors to celebrate Ethiopia's national sport.

Each participant raised €4,000 for Orbis Ireland before embarking on the trip, and they are on target to generate €100,000 for the vital work of saving the sight of thousands of people in some of the poorest regions of southern Ethiopia.

In 2023, the group of Orbis supporters is made up of employees from several companies including Avolon, AerCap, Airbus, CDB Aviation, Falko and PWC.

These generous companies are sponsoring their employees, meaning even more of their fundraising efforts are donated to Orbis. 

The event holds a special significance for Orbis Ireland, as over a third of children in Ethiopia are affected by Trachoma, a blinding yet completely preventable eye disease.

1.2 million Ethiopians are blind, and 2.7 million have a visual impairment. All funds raised go towards Orbis Ireland's goal of eliminating this blinding disease and restoring sight to the most rural villages in Ethiopia, which will be visited by the group. 

Speaking ahead of the Great Ethopian Run, Clare O'Dea, Chairperson at Orbis Ireland, said: "This annual trip for Orbis is not only important in raising funds for Orbis but also in showing the group our vital work in Ethiopia.

"We are proud and humbled to announce that the hundreds of people who have travelled to Ethiopia with Orbis over the years have raised €1,000,000. On behalf of everyone in Ethiopia, whose lives have been changed is due to their generosity, stamina and endurance - thank you." 

Orbis Ireland is part of Orbis International, a non-profit global development organisation working to eliminate avoidable blindness in the world's most poverty-stricken regions.

This is achieved by teaching sight-saving skills to thousands of eye care professionals on board the Orbis Flying Eye Hospital and in local hospitals, who then pass on their expertise to others.