Over 20 friends and family of Ruth and Robert Murray Good will join them to take part in the Cork City Marathon for Enable Ireland.
26-year-old Robert Murray Good is an Enable Ireland Service Owner who attends the Adult Service HUB in Ballintemple, Cork. Robert was born with Cerebral Palsy and Hydrocephalus and has attended Enable Ireland services since he was a baby. This June, Robert and his mother, Ruth, will be taking part in the Cork City 10km. They will be joined by over twenty of Robert’s friends and family, including his sister Heather. The group will run in either the Cork City 10km, Half Marathon, or Marathon to raise funds for Enable Ireland’s services in Cork.
Ruth, said:
“Robert attends Enable Ireland services three days a week. He loves going to the hub. The excitement when the bus comes to pick him up is unreal. When I wake Robert up at 7 am, he asks if he’s going to Enable Ireland and when I say yes, it sets him up for the day. He becomes full of energy knowing that he is heading to Enable Ireland. He gives me a little hug and blows a kiss, and then he’s on his way.
Robert has loads of friends at the centre and he does so many activities. He loves baking. The other week, they did some Polish baking, celebrating the culture of one of the staff members. Robert also participates in the centre’s newsletter, music workshops, aerobics, bingo and more. In the summer, they’ll go for walks along the Marina and look at the trains. They do so much. But when I ask what he’s done of a day, he’ll always say ‘colouring’ - just to get rid of me!"
"The staff at Enable Ireland are all brilliant, but Robert has a particularly special relationship with Katie, his Support Worker and Bus Escort. He idolises her. Katie has always had a great amount of time for Robert. While we were renovating the farm a couple of years ago, Katie would pop in for a cup of tea to keep Robert company whilst we were busy working on the renovations."
"At home, Robert is fondly known as ‘The King’. He has a twin, James, who now lives in the USA. He comes home about four times a year. When he does, he and his wife, Jessica, take over all of Robert’s personal care. Robert has an older sister, Heather, who is a great help too. She lives close by and is always there to support us in every way she can. Her boyfriend, Diarmuid, will also sit with Robert if I need to go somewhere. Their father looks after Robert for one day and a night each week.
It was Heather who first took me to the Park Run in Ballingcollig Regional Park. I made many friends at the Park Run, including Siobhan. We got chatting and over time I told her all about Robert and his services at Enable Ireland. It was Siobhan’s idea to get a group together to run the Cork City Marathon and raise funds for Enable Ireland. Recently, one of the members of the Park Run provided Robert with a wheelchair buggy. So, Robert has started to join me on the Park Run. Now we’ll be participating in the Cork City 10km together to raise funds for Enable!"
"Enable Ireland has been there for us since day one. When Robert attends the Ballintemple Hub it gives me some space for myself. I know he’s safe and I don’t have to worry, while he also gets some time for himself and has a ball with all his friends. From the services Robert received as a child to now, Enable Ireland has been fantastic. I know they will be there for Robert throughout his life. We couldn’t say enough for them.”
