Dublin café set up safe running group for women

More than ever, the safety of women in public places has been the topic on everyone’s lips following the tragic murder of Ashling Murphy whilst she was out for a run last month, and reports of a number of other terrifying assaults on young women in recent times.

That’s why the staff at DASH Café in Phoenix Park have formed a new group called the Phoenix Park DASHERS to the Rescue. The group organise weekly runs for women in the park where they can feel protected by the safety in numbers.

The idea is simple - you pay €20 for four weeks and enjoy the comfort of running with a group without fear or paranoia. The money raised is then donated to various women's charities.

In an interview with Dublin Live, DASH Café staff member Shreya Malik said: “The run is starting from February 1. It’s being conducted by Gary O’Hanlon and it’s happening from 7:00pm to 8:00pm. It’ll be every Tuesday in February.

“All participants pay €20 for four weeks and all the proceeds will be given to charities that help women.

“Our manager decided to do this so the women in Dublin 7 feel safe and that they shouldn’t have to think before going out. If they want to run in the month of February, they have someone to do it with."

“Every week we choose a charity and put an emphasis on raising money and awareness for them.”

Although you could argue that it’s a sad state of affairs that initiatives like this need to be put in place in order for women to be able to exercise safely and without fear, it’s fantastic to see that the project will serve a dual purpose of raising funds for vital charities.

“DASH has focused on four things: great coffee, a healthy lifestyle, sustainability and, most importantly, our community.

“We have raised over €100,000 for a variety of charities including Cycle Against Suicide, Operation Smile, Plan Bee, Pieta House - Darkness into Light, Peter McVerry Trust, Dublin Zoo and St Vincent's University Hospital to name but a few.

“We’ve also partnered with some great initiatives too.”

The running group meets outside Hole in the Wall pub in Phoenix Park. To get involved, simply sign up for the run here.