Getting to know Pat Lawless, Organiser of the very successful Wicklow Summer Family Walk. This walk is held every year to raise vital funds for the Irish Cancer Society.

1. The Wicklow Summer Family Walk is going from strength to strength. When you began 5 years ago, did you have a target in mind of how much money you wanted to raise ?
No I didn’t have a target when I started the Wicklow Summer Family Walk in 2002. I was influenced by colleagues who had raised €100K in the past. I would like to believe that I will continue to raise funds for the Irish Cancer Society with the generous support from the people of Wicklow.

2. When the actual walk is complete each year, what sort of work has to be done before you can say “that’s this years walk over”?
Each year we have a “Sponsors Draw” for the people who kindly sponsor our Walkers and Runners. This draw is held 1 month to the day after the walk. All monies outstanding are collected and the final figure is reached.

3. How do you manage your time in organising the event and doing all the other things you have to do day to day?
I love organising and planning, I have no difficulty allocating the necessary time required to make the Wicklow Summer Family Walk a success

4. Are Irish people more or less generous to charity today as compared with say 10 years ago?
I believe Irish people are more generous to-day and in particular they are very supportive of the Irish Cancer Society, every family has seen in some way the effect cancer has had on society, every euro is required for research if we are to come to terms with this killer.

5. Complete this sentence. Happiness is…… Setting a goal for yourself that initially would appear impossible and when you achieve that challenge that is happiness for example: a) Climbing the 3rd highest mountain in Ireland and the highest mountain in England and Wales on the same day. b) Driving a single seater car at Silverstone, England. c) Winning a “European Dealer Snooker” competition. d) Completing the Dublin City Marathon. e) Walking in the mountains 200km each year over the last 5 years in Spain, Portugal & Cyprus raising funds for the Irish Cancer Society. f) Winning a Senior Football Championship medal with Ashford in 1974. g) As a team mentor winning Division 4 of the National Football League for Wicklow, the O’Byrne Cup and reaching the quarter final of the NFL in Croke Park.

6. If you could change one thing about the world, what would you do?
As a former Chairman of the Wicklow County Board 1995-97, Vice Chairman for 3 years in the 80’s again in 1992-94 and 1998, I would put in place an infrastructure to bring success to the Wicklow both in Hurling and Football. We have failed as a county to achieve any level of success on the field. We continue to influence the delegate at convention with our good monitory results at the expense of success. What would the people of Wicklow give to be €100K in the red going into our first Leinster Senior Football Final in this century. Good players in Wicklow have come and gone without success and this years National Football league campaign is no exception, 2 points on the board - no blame on players or team management who have given 100%. London were the only club with less points. I said in 1998 that radical changes were needed in Wicklow, the corner shop image must be replaced with the supermarket approach otherwise we are doomed to failure. The clubs in Wicklow continue to elect people to the top table who are past their sell by date.

7. Once upon a time I wanted to be ……
A successful GAA County Chairman who would bring success to the County, unfortunately the County did not want success.

8. I wish I was there when…. (pick a moment in time you wish you could have been there for)
I wish I was at the funeral of Ayrton Senna in Brazil in 1992, Ayrton was a brilliant Formula 1 Champion. I wish I could have been at the funeral of George Best.

9. What advice would you give to someone organising a charity event?
Good planning, good organisation, set your roadmap at least 6 months in advance.

10. What would you like to be remembered for most?
A person who was ahead of his time in the GAA.