Running club founder still going the extra mile after winning Spirit of Health award

The Derry man was named Spirit of Health champion at last year’s Sunday Life Spirit of Northern Ireland Awards, in partnership with Ulster Bank.

The mental health nurse manager not only turned his lifestyle around but inspired scores of others after forming a running club called Star, with he and his army of athletes raising thousands of pounds for good causes.

When Sunday Life caught up with him a year on, he told us the group was continuing to go the extra mile.

Seamus said: “It’s been growing. We’ve about 140-odd members now and we’re still doing a lot of fundraising.

“There’s a good few of us heading away to do London (Marathon) next weekend for the Foyle Hospice.

“The club has grown. I think it was about 100 last year and it’s more than 140 now, so what we’ve done is we’ve promoted some of our members through a coaching course, so they’ve become coaches as well.

“Because our numbers are increasing, we need additional coaching and leaders in running fitness, so we’ve put them through courses to accommodate the numbers.”

Before winning his prize, Seamus told us a life-changing event prompted him to take up running a decade ago — the death of his beloved mum from cancer.

He said: “The Derry Marathon came about and I decided that I would try and run the marathon in her honour for Foyle Hospice, and that’s how it all started.

“Mum passed away in 2013 and the Derry Marathon came about in 2014, so it gave me something to aim for. I was 17 and a half stone, smoking, drinking... I was unfit.

“So, I took on that challenge and raised a few thousand pounds, and then the following year I went to do the London Marathon. I thought I needed something, so I joined a running club.”

With his demanding shift patterns in the health sector, Seamus could not stick to that group’s rigid timeframes, so he set up his own outfit instead, and now the members are celebrating a 10-year anniversary.

In tandem with improving health and fitness, Star is dedicated to raising money for good causes in Derry.

Seamus said: “You just see what this town needs, and with being a mental health nurse, a lot of it is focused on that issue.

“With the running, it’s about promoting and encouraging people to have positive mental health.

“If we can save one person from the river by getting them out running or even chatting with them on the way round, like I say, that’s one life saved.”

Seamus paid tribute to his “right-hand man” Stephen Quigley, who has been there for challenges including raising £27,500 for a wheelchair-accessible vehicle for people with learning disabilities.

Among the groups to benefit from Star’s efforts are Foyle Search and Rescue and the Bogside Brandywell Health Forum.

That is one of the many reason why Seamus took home our Spirit of Health award, sponsored by Balmoral Healthcare and presented to him by actor Dan Gordon and Loose Women panellist and former Birds of a Feather star Linda Robson.

Seamus said: “It was humbling. Just listening to other people’s stories was amazing and rubbing shoulders with some of the stars as well. I know they probably enjoyed meeting me too, but I certainly don’t do it for the recognition. I do it for the love of running and the craic along the way.”

Joining Seamus on stage to hand over the honour was Kieran McCormick, from Balmoral Healthcare, which is back on board to support the category this year.

He told Sunday Life: “For the past 24 years, we have been building on our excellent reputation for recruiting only the highest calibre of registered nurses, paramedics, senior care assistants and healthcare assistants.

“High nursing standards and values, along with a committed focus to patient safety and person-centred care, is at the heart of Balmoral Healthcare. We are extremely proud to sponsor the Spirit of Health award and feel that it is important to recognise the unwavering dedication of our healthcare professionals as they go above and beyond to improve the health, safety and wellbeing of their patients.”

The Sunday Life Spirit of Northern Ireland Awards, in partnership with Ulster Bank, seeks out and celebrates the unsung heroes, the people who have made a difference to the lives of others with no thought of reward.

This year’s awards, hosted by UTV’s Pamela Ballantine and Cool FM presenter Pete Snodden, will be held at the Culloden Resort and Spa on Friday, June 14.

All of our categories are listed here today, and we are seeking people who have demonstrated a spirit of compassion, neighbourliness, charity, courage or devotion, or those who have gone beyond the call of duty in the fields of education, the emergency services, the caring sector, health or sport.

Email your nomination to spiritofniawards@sundaylife.co.uk with an explanation of why you think they deserve to be recognised. Alternatively, you can post nominations to Sunday Life Spirit of Northern Ireland Awards, 33 Clarendon Road, Belfast BT1 3BG.

The categories

Charity champion: Someone who has worked tirelessly for a charity or as a fundraiser for many years.

Spirit of Education: A truly inspirational teacher who has helped children and young people fulfil their potential.

Unsung hero: Someone whose great deed or deeds have previously gone unnoticed but who has made a major contribution to your life or to your community.

Caring Spirit: A person who has dedicated their time to caring for a friend or family member.

Young Carer: A young person who has dedicated their time to caring for a friend or family member.

Spirit of Youth: Someone under the age of 18 who should be recognised for their special achievements.

Spirit of Sport: Someone who has made an exceptional contribution to sport over a number of years.

999 Hero: A member of the emergency services who has gone above and beyond the call of duty in their job.

Spirit of Health: A medical professional who has gone the extra mile to improve the health and wellbeing of their patients.

Overcoming Adversity: Someone who has overcome huge personal challenges, whether it is dealing with illness or disability or overcoming problems.

Eco Champion: Seeks to recognise an individual or community group that has gone the extra mile to care for and protect the local environment for future generations.

Community Hero: Someone who has made an outstanding contribution to their local community or neighbourhood.

Special Recognition: Someone who the judges feel represents the Spirit of NI by selflessly serving others and being an inspiration.