IF you want some motivation for your New Year’s Resolutions, or you would like to incorporate some fun and philanthropy into your fitness routine, Offaly Hospice are partnering with Fun House Theatre Company for the Sunflower Steps Challenge. This 8-week fitness challenge is open to people of all levels, ages, and interests.

You can register for the Sunflower Steps Challenge either as an individual, or you can form teams of 2-5 people, and there will be prizes for the top fundraising groups or individuals, as well as prizes for the teams who complete the most steps.

Jay Origan, co-founder of Fun House Theatre Company, has said: “We are so excited to be launching the Sunflower Steps Challenge in aid of Offaly Hospice, and our upcoming inaugural production of Calendar Girls the Musical. The great thing about this challenge is that anyone can join in; we are using an app that allows all types of exercise to be converted into steps, for the purpose of being able to measure how each team is getting on in the competition. The main goal, however, is to raise funds for Offaly Hospice, which we are proud to contribute to. We also hope to spread awareness of the first musical that Fun House Theatre Company will be putting on, ‘Calendar Girls the Musical’”.

Calendar Girls The Musical will be running from 1st  to 5th  May 2024 in Esker Arts Centre. The hilarious musical is based on the true story of eleven women who famously posed nude for a calendar to raise money for the Leukaemia Research Fund in 1999. Inspired by themes in this musical, Fun House Theatre Company will be raising funds for Offaly Hospice through the Sunflower Steps Challenge, and further down the line there will be a Nude Calendar for sale where all proceeds will go to Offaly Hospice.

The winners at the end of the 8-week challenge will win prizes kindly sponsored by The Old Warehouse Tullamore. The top fundraising team, and the team that reaches the highest number of steps, will win a team night out at the Old Warehouse, with food and drink provided. The ideal celebration at the end of 8 weeks of teamwork and earning vital funds for a worthy cause.

Professor Humphrey O’Connor, Chairman of Offaly Hospice spoke recently regarding the fundraiser, stating: “We are so grateful for support at this level towards the work we do at Offaly Hospice. We encourage anyone who can, to get involved in the Sunflower Steps Challenge, to spread awareness and help raise vital funds that will help the people and families who avail of our support.”

Offaly County Councillors Tony McCormack, Neil Feighery and Declan Harvey were at The Old Warehouse Tullamore on Saturday 2nd  December to show their support for the upcoming launch. Cllr. Harvey had this to say about the fundraiser: “It’s great to see local initiative for such a worthy cause that will benefit people all over the midlands in years to come. I encourage anyone who can, to get involved in some capacity. This fundraiser has the potential to earn large amounts towards a vital service, and more importantly, it’s a good excuse to get together with family, friends, and colleagues in what should prove to be a lot of fun!”.

The launch of the Sunflower Steps Challenge takes place on January 6th  in The Old Warehouse Tullamore, with the challenge running for 8 weeks from 8th  January until March 3rd.

Please visit  www.funhouse.ie  for more information on how to get involved and register as a team or individual, or email  [email protected]  for further information.