Jessica completes 10K charity challenge in memory of her dad

When Ballymagorry woman Jessica McColgan takes up a challenge she doesn’t do things by half.

In a bid to honour her father’s memory and raise money for the Air Ambulance Jessica decided to walk ten kilometres a day for a whole month.

Tragically, Jessica’s dad John Barr died in a motorbike accident in 2006, and the charity challenge was planned to coincide with what would have been the Strabane man’s 50th birthday.

Jessica was only seven-years-old when her dad died but he is never far from her thoughts. “It was nice to do something to mark his birthday,” she explained. “I have wanted to do something for charity for a while and then I saw the Air Ambulance helping people who had been involved in motorbike accidents and thought if they had have been around in 2006 my dad might have still been here if they could have got to him quickly.”

10K a day is no mean feat as Jessica explained, “It was hard to fit in with work and stuff but you just knew you had to do it. Everyone had sponsored you and that kept you motivated, it meant you had to do it no matter what the weather.

“It took me about an hour and a half each day. Some days around Ballymagorry and other days I went to Derry and did the three bridges just to change it up a bit. Some of my friends came out with me about the third week and that kept me going as well.”

This week a delighted Jessica handed over £2,350 to the Air Ambulance, and she extends her thanks to everyone who sponsored and supported her in the challenge.

She added, “I’m glad to have it over, but it was nice to do it. It was rewarding. and the support I got from people was amazing, they were so generous and I’m very grateful.”