DCU's annual Beg Borrow Steal race kicked off this week with over 100 teams of two racing to Berlin via mystery checkpoints with no money whatsoever. They simply have to beg, borrow or steal their way to the German capital and in doing so they're raising money for the Irish Cancer Society.
It's a great idea and one that certainly captures the imagination. The teams are currently making their way around Europe and one pair in particular have done a fairly good job of promoting their travels by reaching out to the good natured side of twitter and seeing what comes back.
Thankfully for team @HomeBySaturday, Ian Madigan came back and he pulled it out of the bag big time for them on Wednesday while they were stuck in Belfast. They needed to get to Paris so, among others, they sent a tweet to Madigan to see what he could do.
(If you want to donate to any of the teams then you can head over to begborrowsteal.ie)
@Ian_madigan any chance you can get on to the ulster lads to give us a dig out? Stuck in Belfast City airport #DCUBegBorrowSteal
— Home by Saturday#BBS (@HomeBySaturday) February 10, 2016
We're assuming Rory Best could have called up Belfast City airport and chartered a private flight if he wanted to but Madigan decided not to bother his captain and sorted things out himself.
@Ian_madigan we need flights booked!! Is there any chance??
— Home by Saturday#BBS (@HomeBySaturday) February 10, 2016
One of the race organisers stepped in and contact details were sorted out.
@PowerofBrendan @HomeBySaturday fire away
— Ian madigan (@Ian_madigan) February 10, 2016
And sure enough, Madigan came through and the pair were off to Paris. (And before anyone says anything smart, yes, Beauvais still counts)
@HomeBySaturday safe trip to Glenn and Emma off to Paris! @irishcancersoc @MovemberIreland #DCUbegborrowsteel pic.twitter.com/k7R49ltHEe
— Ian madigan (@Ian_madigan) February 10, 2016
Fair play to team 'I need to be home by Saturday because I've work' for asking and fair play to Madigan for being so thoroughly sound about it. A genuinely great way to get a bit of recognition for the race although it must be said that, in the end, it wasn't enough to get Glenn and Emma to the finish line first with team @apfelstrudelers coming through early on Thursday morning.
Congratulations to @apfelstrudelers on winning #DCUBegBorrowSteal Amazing effort by all in @esocdcu
— DCU Students' Union (@DCUSU) February 11, 2016
