The Operaton Transformation National Walk

This year Operation Transformation have teamed up with the Irish Sports Council to organise a number of special nationwide sporting events.

Operation Transformation is embracing exercise like never before and on Saturday, 15th of January, Ireland participated in the first of these, a national walk. There were 32 walks taking place with at least one in every county in the Republic so there was no excuse for missing out.

Supported by Offaly Sports Partnership, the Health Services Executive, and with the backing of the Irish Sports Council, our 70 walkers on the day met at 11am at Kilbeggan Bridge, Tullamore and walked the 5.4km (3.2 mile) Tullamore Slí na Sláinte route. Ably led by Emma Gilchrist and Lily Kavanagh, with participants of all ages and all sizes on a wet and miserable Saturday morning, many of the walkers completed the route in 40 – 50 minutes. For more information on Tullamore’s Slí na Sláinte route and other Slí na Sláinte routes in Offaly, check out www.irishheart.ie.

The remaining events forming part of Operation Transformation’s Special Events include: -

• Give a Sport a Go - The Irish Sports Council through the support of its Midlands Sports Partnerships (Longford, Offaly and Westmeath) will host a huge day of sporting activities for all the family in the Athlone Institute of Technology on Saturday, 5th February from 12 noon (registration from 11am) to 3pm. This is your chance to Give a Sport a Go! You'll be encouraged to "have a go" at a huge variety of sporting activities. Bring the family. Give a Sport a Go! You know you want to!

• 5k Fun Run - Yes, it's the ultimate Operation Transformation and Irish Sports Council event. Dublin's Phoenix Park will provide the backdrop for the biggest fun sporting event of the season. If you've been following the Operation Transformation exercise plan you'll be well able for this one! Run it, walk it, hop it! Even if you can manage to crawl it, it promises to be a great fun day for all. The run takes place on the 19th February.

Check out www.rte.ie/ot or www.irishsportscouncil/news for more information.