Thirty Galway friends and work colleagues of Donegal man Shaun Doherty, who is currently battling cancer, will this week embark on a 350 kilometre charity cycle along Ireland’s western seaboard to raise funds for Friends of St Luke’s and the Bone Marrow for Leukaemia Trust.
Called ‘‘Tour for Shaun 2014’’, the 26-year-old Doherty was diagnoed with Stage 3 Hodgkin-Lymphoma in 2011.
The cycle, taking place on the June Bank Holiday weekend, will see the group travel through Galway, Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim, and Donegal.
The group includes Barry Connolly, Liz Hastings, and Padraic Benson from Moycullen; Allen Martyn, Barry Quinn, John Forde, and Stephen Forde from Ballindereen; Robbie Quinn from Corcullen; Niall O'Grady from Woodford; Aoife McNamara from Portumna; Brian O'Donnell from Barna; Paddy Gilhooley from Athenry; and Colm Griffin from Ahascragh.
Many of the cyclists participating in the fundraiser are based in London where civil engineer Shaun relocated to from his home village of Clonmany five years ago.
Speaking ahead of the charity cycle, Shaun said: "What the guys have achieved here is simply remarkable. They have humbled me from the first day of my diagnosis with offers of help from London and opened my eyes to just how important good friends are. It has been amazing following the progress and ever-building momentum of Tour for Shaun from Donegal, and indeed from St James’ Hospital over the last six months.”
Shaun's friend, Barry Connolly from Moycullen, Galway, said the ultimate goal of ‘‘Tour for Shaun 2014’’ is to raise much needed funds for two very special Irish charities and ‘‘to increase general health awareness among young adults who often have a false sense of invincibility.’’
For more information, visit www.mycharity.ie/charity/tourforshaun2014 or see the cycle’s Facebook or Twitter page.
