Dublin Simon Community announces launch of 41st Home Run

Dublin Simon Community has launched its annual ‘Home Run’ campaign. They are inviting hundreds of walkers, joggers, and runners to complete a new Phoenix Park loop on Saturday, October 5, and raise essential funds to end homelessness. 

Now in its 41st year, Home Run allows participants to fundraise for those experiencing homelessness while enjoying an accessible 5-kilometre journey through the scenic Phoenix Park.

Previous years have seen schools, walking clubs, parents with buggies, wheelchair users, elite runners, active retirement groups, corporate teams, and many more join together to participate.

For the first time, this year’s Home Run will feature a Wellness Day Out at the start and finish line, with interactive warm-ups led by Gym Plus, wellness classes provided by some of Dublin’s finest wellness practitioners and food trucks from The Wright Group. 

There will also be children’s entertainment provided by Clowns and Colours Entertainment and Sweetcheeks Facepainting, live music from The Walkaleles and Alex Hughes Bagpipes, and wellness activities from Yoga Parties. The event will also include a kids’ race to encourage younger members of the public to get involved. 

The first wave of participants will start the Home Run at 9.30am, with family members and friends encouraged to cheer on participants from the sidelines. 

There will be a whole host of stalls and activities for participants to enjoy at the start and finish line once the hard work is done, including musical performances and Dublin Simon Community’s Wellness Day Out.

The Home Run was established in 1983 and has supported the progress made by Dublin Simon Community to end homelessness ever since. The event has been pivotal in raising funds to provide emergency response, wraparound support, and permanent homes to people experiencing or at risk of homelessness in Dublin and the surrounding counties. 

In 2022 alone, Dublin Simon’s Outreach had 6,371 interventions with people sleeping rough, provided 3,335 hours of one-to-one counselling and crisis suicide intervention, and supported 5,476 people and families across all services.

Interested participants are urged to register for the event via https://www.dubsimon.ie/home-run and begin their fundraising drive ahead of time. 

Those who register before August 31 will pay a reduced registration fee of €15, or €20 thereafter. Participants can also purchase a limited-edition t-shirt for an additional €15 or donate these funds back to Dublin Simon Community. 

All funds raised by runners and within the community festival will go directly towards Dublin Simon Community’s life-saving services, helping vulnerable people in the community close the door on homelessness for good.

Speaking about the 2024 Home Run launch, Dublin Simon Community’s CEO Catherine Kenny explained:“The number of people dealing with homelessness has continued to grow, with a 11% increase in Dublin in the last year alone. Now, more than ever, it is necessary to remind the local Dublin community of our goal to end homelessness for people and families each and every day”.

“Since 1983, our community has shown what it is capable of. Every year at Home Run we see what happens when participants, staff, volunteers, clients, and supporters join forces. We have been and will continue to make a difference by helping people out of homelessness”.

Kenny added, “We are reaching out to get as many people as possible, whether athletes or not, to join us on the 5th October because it is our time to end homelessness. With the power of movement as a community, we can show solidarity, action, and change lives together.”

Dublin Simon Community highlights that It is our time to end homelessness. Sign up for the 2024 Home Run here and help Dublin Simon Community raise essential funds and change lives.

Image credit: Andres Poveda