Derry's Dene Harley eyes new fundraising heights after record toy appeal
Father of three taking on 10-day ultra-run to raise vital funds for local mental health charities
Fresh off a five-year milestone for his successful Christmas toy appeal, Derry’s Dene Harley is already looking toward his most daunting challenge yet: a 600km ultra-run from Malin Head to Mizen Head.
Dene, a well-known local lifestyle coach at Harley Fitness and a High Needs Support Worker, plans to tackle the entire length of Ireland this June. The grueling itinerary will see him cover 60km every day for ten consecutive days, traveling from the island’s most northerly point in Donegal to its most southerly point in Cork.
The announcement comes following a record-breaking festive season for Dene’s annual toy appeal. Now in its fifth year, the 2025 appeal received "absolutely amazing" support from the community, providing essential support to families and children across the region. With that mission complete, Dene is shifting his focus to raising vital funds and awareness for mental health charities in the North West.
"I decided to undertake a 600km run in 10 days because if it doesn’t scare me, then it’s not big enough," Dene explained. "It has to be a challenge and something I couldn’t physically do now, at this minute in time. I have to be able to train for it."
The father-of-three is no stranger to endurance tests, having previously raised significant funds for local organisations including ARC Fitness and Foyle Search and Rescue. While the specific beneficiaries for this June’s run are yet to be finalised, Dene intends to support the "amazing services" available to the people of Derry and the surrounding areas.
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To make this ambitious trek a reality, Dene is calling on the local business community for support. While a GoFundMe page will be established for charitable donations, he is currently seeking sponsors to help offset the significant personal financial costs of the 10-day logistics and equipment.
"I would be extremely grateful to hear from anyone who could help out in any way," Dene added.
Business owners or individuals who wish to support this challenge are encouraged to get in touch via the Harley Fitness Instagram page.