Diocesan News
Will marathon prove a step too far for Tyrone clergyman?
A County Tyrone clergyman is hoping to complete a full marathon in the next fortnight – praying as he runs – to raise funds for repair and restoration work in church buildings in his parish.
The first Derg and Killeter Parish ‘Door–to–Door Marathon’ will take place on Friday 15th May, provided the Rev Peter Ferguson has recovered sufficiently from a foot injury. “The idea is that I run a marathon starting from the rectory front door, running 26.2 miles around this beautiful parish and the Derg Valley, and back to the rectory front door,” he said.
Mr Ferguson, who is the Rector of Derg and Termonamongan Parish, says if the event goes well it’s something he’d like to repeat on a monthly basis.
“At this time of lockdown I really miss being out and about in the parish, meeting parishioners and members of the wider community,” he said. “I’ve always loved running and when I run or jog I spend that time praying. So, the idea came that I would train up for the first ‘Door–to–Door Derg and Killeter Parish Marathon’, praying for the parish and the community as I go.”
Mr Ferguson said parish fundraisers had been severely affected by the Covid–19 emergency and he hoped his marathons would bring in much–needed income. “There’s repair work to be done on St Bestius’ Church in Killeter. Derg Parish are also raising money for capital projects. And we’ve a long–term vision to upgrade the parish youth hall which is used by the whole community.
“Friends encouraged me to think about setting up a JustGiving page as a way of raising some much–needed funds for parish projects. We had many community–reaching parish fundraising initiatives [planned] over these coming months and they have all been cancelled, so this is a way I can connect with the community and the parish and bring some encouragement, and also raise some funds for parish projects.”
The Rector said his parish marathon was not intended as a Free Will Offering replacement but rather as a community fundraising initiative in the Derg and Killeter Parish Group. It won’t be the first time Rev Ferguson will have run the distance. He has completed the Belfast Marathon on three occasions, clocking a personal best time of 3 hours and 24 minutes.
If you would like to support the Parish of Derg and Termonamongan’s fundraising effort, you can donate to their JustGiving Crowdfunding page.
For further information please contact:
Diocesan Communications Officer, Derry & Raphoe
Mr Paul McFadden
028 7126 2440
07525 826290
press@derryandraphoe.org