A Co Antrim man is planning to walk a marathon a day for 14 days this summer to highlight parental alienation.
Charlie Magill, 52, will take on the huge challenge of trekking 364 miles from Tragumna Bay, Skibbereen, on the coast of Co Cork on 23rd July and finishing in his native Glenarm on 5th August.
He is taking on this challenge to highlight the right for a child to have contact with both biological parents, and the right for parents to have contact with their children.
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Father-of-three Charlie decided to do this walk because he witnessed someone close to him going through the pain of having to fight to see his children.
“I’m taking on this challenge to highlight parental alienation and mental health,” he told Belfast Live.
“This is the loss of contact between one parent and their children following parental separation with one parent intentionally interfering and denying access to the other parent.
“Having watched someone go through the experience of losing contact with their children, I have decided to bring this sensitive topic across the island of Ireland.
“I watched him go through the emotional, mental and physical damage of being an alienated parent, which affected both him and his extended family.
“It also does huge damage to the children who are kept away from that parent through no fault of their own so I feel very strongly about this.
“I feel it’s wrong that a parent feels they have the right to keep children away from the other parent. The system doesn’t do enough in this area and that needs to change.”
(Image: Submitted)
Since starting to promote his upcoming challenge, Charlie has been approached by many parents throughout Ireland, going through a similar experience.
“Unfortunately, these parents are not in a position to highlight this problem themselves, either they don’t have the strength to, or following advice from their legal team, they are told it would further harm their legal case to have contact with their children.
“Before starting to organise the walk, I hadn’t realised just how massive this issue is,” he added.
“I hope that by doing this walk I can start a conversation on this important issue and maybe some of those directly impacted by it either now or in the past will join me over some of the days I’ll be walking across Ireland.”
The proceeds from Charlie’s walk will go to La Dolce Vita and Turning Point NI, two charities chosen for their commitment to supporting people experiencing parental alienation and those battling poor mental health.
Charlie has also launched a GoFundMe page and you can donate here.
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