JOIN TOP RADIO STARS IN RUNNING FOR REHAB
Some of Ireland’s leading female radio stars from around the country are casting off their headphones and putting on their running shoes in aid of Rehab for this year’s Flora Women’s Mini Marathon, taking place on Bank Holiday Monday, 1st June.
Today FM’s Alison Curtis, RTÉ 2FM’s Nikki Hayes, Newstalk’s Orla Barry and iRADIO’s Nadia Sakni and Louise McSharry will line up with fellow Rehab supporters at the starting line to help raise much needed funds for HeadsUp, Rehab’s suicide prevention and mental health promotion programme for young people.
Specifically aimed at young people between 15 and 24 years of age, HeadsUp aims to promote positive mental health and provide information and support to those in need. Collette Ryan, HeadsUp Project Manager, says, “The mini marathon is an important aspect of our fundraising activity and we hope that as many women as possible will come out and support us on June 1st. We need to raise more than €200,000 this year to operate the HeadsUp service which provides young people with valuable information on support services in times of crisis as well as life skills and parenting programmes, and suicide intervention skills training.”
Anyone interested in participating in the mini marathon or supporting Rehab should contact Kate Ryan of Rehab on (01) 2057 231 or by email at kate.ryan@rehab.ie
View Ireland AM interview with Alison Curtis, Nikki Hayes and Orla Barry as they prepare to run for Rehab in the Flora Women's Mini Marathon.
Alison Curtis, Today FM
“I’m really looking forward to the mini marathon and to lining up with the other Rehab participants but I’d be lying if I said the 10 kilometres wasn’t a little bit daunting.”
Support Alison Curtis as she runs for Rehab
Alison Curtis is a DJ on Today FM and a widely respected figure on the Irish music scene. Curtis was born and raised in, Ontario, but spent her formative years in Toronto. She graduated from the University of Toronto with an Honours BA in Anthropology. Alongside her studies, she was actively involved in the Toronto indie scene, managing band nights, writing and editing the college paper, and drumming in a band called The Justice League.
After graduating, Alison moved to Ireland. Shortly after arriving in 1999, she joined Today FM, as the senior researcher on The Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show. Working on a close-knit team, she was responsible for the show's features, guests and persuading Ian Dempsey to play a few "alternative" artists.
Alison currently presents The Last Splash on Sunday nights from 8-10pm and on week nights The Alison Curtis Show from 10pm-midnight. The Last Splash has earned her three Best DJ Meteor Award nominations.
Nikki Hayes, RTÉ 2FM
“I’ve been training for a few weeks now so it’s definitely becoming a bit easier. I’ve done the mini marathon before so I have an idea of what lies ahead – some running, and lots of fun.”
Support Nikki Hayes as she runs for Rehab
I know it sounds clichéd but ever since I was a child I have wanted to be on radio. When all my friends were hooked on Neighbours and McGuiver, I was tuned into 2fm, Q102 and Sunshine Radio. This passion for radio went to another level when I started secondary school and I hung about pirate stations trying to get to know all the Djs. I used to ring up Tony Fenton’s hotline all the time and prep my links so I’d know exactly what I was going to say.
I got my first radio gig at 15 years of age and hopped through pirate stations for 3 years eventually got my legal gig on East Coast Radio (now east coast fm), I worked there 7 days a week just to get my gig – sales Monday to Friday, promotions and on-air at weekends!
It all paid off though in 2001 when Dublin youth station Spin1038 approached me to present their evening programme “The Shift” and I had a full time radio gig – what I had always dreamed of – the other part of that dream came true a couple of weeks ago when JC called me and asked me to cover “the Sunday cruise” for 8 weeks for Aidan Leonard – working on RTÉ 2fm has been the ultimate dream and now I’m living it I have to keep pinching myself to make sure it’s real!
Orla Barry, Newstalk
“The mini-marathon is an important event to highlight the work of organisations such as Rehab and the need for support services like HeadsUp. Not being a very sporty person, I won't be aiming to break any world records, finishing it is good enough for me! I know from past experience it's a fun day and there's a great sense of accomplishment when you eventually cross the line.”
Support Orla Barry as she runs for Rehab
Orla Barry is presenter of Weekend Blend the most listened to show on Newstalk106-108FM. Weekend Blend airs on Saturday mornings from 9.30am to 11.30am. The show offers a vibrant mix of star quality guests, the latest talent in live music, revealing interviews, travel features, book reviews and discussions on a variety of hot topics.
Originally from Cork, Orla has been a broadcaster with the national talk radio station since 2003. She is also a columnist with the Irish Independent newspaper and a regular features writer with the Irish Examiner. Orla has produced a number of documentaries on life in Rwanda and Kenya. She is also currently undertaking a Masters degree in Development Studies at UCD.
Prior to Newstalk, Orla joined Radio Kerry in 1998 and over a five-year period presented and produced a number of programmes including the station's flagship talk show "Kerry Today" and the afternoon show "Barrytime".
Nadia Sakni, i105-107
“I’ve been looking for a challenge, something to get my teeth into and I think the Flora Women’s Mini-marathon is exactly that. Rehab’s HeadsUp initiative is an extremely worthy cause so I hope can encourage as many women as possible to support this programme by joining me in running for Rehab on 1st June.”
Support Nadia Sakni as she runs for Rehab
Nadia is from Limerick and joined the i105107 team in Athlone back in September 2008. Before joining iRadio she worked as a swing jock and in the promotions team at a local station in my home city of Limerick. She now presents the iDrive show on i105-107 from 4-7pm weekdays. Nadia’s very excited to be taking on the challenge of representing Rehab Ireland and running the mini-marathon in June. She has never ran a marathon before so is a little nervous, but is doing lots of training to get in shape.
Louise McSharry, i102-104
“I’m really excited to be taking part in the Women’s Mini Marathon despite my natural aversion to exercise – I reckon it’s time to grow up and start getting healthy! The fact that I can also raise awareness for a great service like HeadsUp is a great bonus. I’m hoping I can count on the women of the west and northwest for their support and maybe they’ll even join me on the day.”
Support Louise McSharry as she runs for Rehab
Louise McSharry is originally from Dublin, but has become a naturalised Galwegian since moving there to present iWakeup on i102-104 in 2007. She spent 10 years of her childhood in Chicago before returning to Ireland. Louise loves music, showbiz and food. Seriously, she really loves food.
