In an event officially launched this week by Galway City Mayor, Padraig Conneely, six local men are driving their two little Nissan Micras from Galway to Mongolia in July to participate in the Mongol Rally 2014 in aid of the Cystic Fibrosis Galway Hospital Project.
The six, Terry Keenan, Adrian O'Malley, Patrick Curran, David O'Sullivan, John Kearney, and George O'Donnell, are undertaking the trip at their own expense with all proceeds from the event to support facilities and resources for children and adults with cystic fibrosis who are treated in both the CF Paediatric Unit and the CF Adult Unit at Galway University Hospital.
The Mongol Rally is an annual, unsupported, endurance rally which is funded completely by the participants themselves. The rally will cover more than 10,000 kilometres, across one third of the world’s surface, in a car which rules stipulate cannot have an engine displacement over one litre (1,000cc ) and must be less than 10 years old. “The vehicles we have chosen as our ‘chariots’ are a pair of sporty one litre Nissan Micras which should make for an interesting journey,” said Terry Keenan. “Starting off in the west of Ireland, our route will take us through Europe, Russia, and Kazakhstan on our way to the finish line in the capital of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar. This will see us travelling on some of the world’s worst roads through the roughest of terrain with a few tough border crossings thrown in for good measure. This is sure to test the durability of our cars, our patience, and probably our friendships.”
He continued by saying; “Cystic Fibrosis Galway is a charity especially close to our hearts as they have supported and continue to support close family and friends that have been affected by the disease. We have decided all money raised by us participating in the Mongol Rally will go directly to the Cystic Fibrosis Galway Hospital Project. We are funding the costs of the rally completely ourselves including flights, cars, visas, and insurance. You can rest assured all money you donate to us will go directly to the charity.”
Cystic Fibrosis Galway is a regional branch of Cystic Fibrosis Ireland. A dedicated group of volunteers, all administration and organisation of the charity is carried out from their own homes. In 2009, some €300,000 raised for Cystic Fibrosis Galway Hospital Project was utilised to provide single en-suite isolation rooms in St Anthony’s Ward in Galway University Hospital. Currently, the charity has pledged a further €250,000 to the paediatric unit in Galway University Hospital. Construction is under way for the urgently required new build which consists of four examination/clinical rooms, a treatment room, two offices for medical and nursing staff, and a gym.
For more information on the Cystic Fibrosis Galway charity find the event on Facebook at www.facebook.com/cysticfibrosismongolrally To make a donation to the cause, visit www.idonate.ie/cfmongolrally .
