Michelle Doherty and son Max (11) escaped the shooting on Bondi Beach by a matter of minutes.
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16 Dec 2025
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16 Dec 2025
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Michael Ellis and his daughter Claire took on the daunting task of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro
Well known Arva businessman Michael Ellis and his daughter Claire took on the daunting task of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro earlier this year together to raise funds for five local charities.
And during the Customer Appreciation Day at Gerry Ellis & Sons Fresh Today store in Granard last Friday, Michael and Claire formally presented the funds raised from their ambitious goal to the charities.
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Mount Kilimanjaro is in Tanzania, and it is the highest mountain in Africa. What began as a suggestion by Claire became a ‘fantastic’ experience for Michael who, looking back, is glad that he was talked into it.
“We met some beautiful people, a beautiful country. Great, great experience and I’m glad I’ve done it,” he said. “ I’ve done it and it was great!”
The father-daughter duo raised an incredible €27,000 which was divided between:
Cavan-Monaghan Palliative Care founded by Jimmy O’Donnell; St Christopher’s Services in Longford town; County Longford Hospice Homecare; Muscular Dystrophy and St Patrick’s in Arva.
There was plenty of festive cheer and goodies throughout the Appreciation Day at Fresh Today, Granard. Michael said: “It was well received, with good crowds. We’d like to thank the people in Granard and the surrounding area for their support for the store.”
Having climbed the highest freestanding mountain in the world now, with it being -25 degrees at the top and plus 10 at the bottom, Michael’s zest for exploration has not stopped yet. He named other locations of interest that crossed his mind to try out sometime in the future.
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“Croagh Patrick, maybe and a few caminoes in Spain or Portugal. Maybe Croagh Patrick for now,” he mused.
The appreciation day at the new Granard Fresh Today featured festive fun for all, with giveaway vouchers, with the highest worth €300, Christmas carols and an appearance from Santa.
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