Prisoner planning to go on the run… for charity
Howard Lake | 12 September 2005 | News
A prisoner wants to get out of Limerick jail and do a runner, according to the Irish Examiner. Not to flee, but rather leg it back in behind bars. And yesterday he told the prison authorities about his plan which is all in aid of charity fundraising.
Patrick Scanlon, who got seven years at Limerick Circuit Court in December 2000 for possession of ‚€2 million worth of cannabis, is seeking a day release to run from Ballybunion to Limerick and back into prison and raise money for four charities.
Mr Scanlon, 45, from West Limerick hit international headlines three years ago when he raised ‚€10,000 for the Chernobyl Children’s Fund by running a marathon around the exercise yard of the prison.
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Another famous prisoner, Lord Jeffrey Archer, sent Pat a cheque and a well done note for his effort.
It took Pat three hours and 41 minutes to run a distance of 26 miles around the confines of the prison exercise yard. Described by the authorities as a model prisoner, he has been given a number of day releases as he prepares for his final release early next year.
He has been in strict training for several months to prepare for the Ballybunion/Limerick run.
One prison source said: Pat has made the authorities aware that he plans to seek permission for a one-day release in the next few months so that he can do the run. He intends to raise money from the run for four different charities.
He decided on the jail marathon after seeing a TV documentary about the children who were affected by the Chernobyl disaster.
At the time of his trial, Mr Scanlon, who ran a successful restaurant in Limerick at one time, was described as a soft touch for dealers who used him as a ‘mule’ to bring in drugs.
Although he had convictions prior to his arrest for using drugs, he was not into hard drugs. He was introduced to the drugs underworld by a Limerick businessman.
Mr Scanlon was arrested in the city centre and found with a huge shipment of cannabis which had been brought in from Malaga in southern Spain.
At his trial, it was stated that he was tempted to act as a drugs mule to help feed his huge gambling habit.
He was a regular in Limerick betting shops and known for the huge cash bets he sometimes placed, according to witnesses, on impulse.
One source said: He was a big time mug punter. He would rush into a betting office with a huge wad of notes and place a bet, sometimes on a horse he hardly knew the name of.
During his time in prison, Mr Scanlon has spent most of his spare time reading and learning different skills in the craft shops.
A prison officer said: Pat is a model prisoner. He is doing his time and getting on with his life.
Many prison officers contribute to his marathon fund and Adi Roche visited Limerick Prison to thank him for his donation.
About Howard Lake
Howard Lake is consultant editor of UK Fundraising. He founded the site in 1994 and successfully sold it in 2022. As director of Giving X Ltd he is exploring growing giving on a massive scale.
He is the founder of Fundraising Camp and co-founder of GoodJobs.