Former captain of the Ireland national rugby team, Rory Best, has announced his second fundraising trek in aid of Cancer Fund for Children, walking from Dublin's Aviva Stadium to Cong, Co Mayo this May.
An ambassador for Cancer Fund for Children, an all-Ireland organisation which aims to provide support for children with cancer and their families through services and centres, like the Daisy Lodge in Co Down, Best will embark on his second charitable trek for the charity, having completed a 181 mile walk from Down to Cong in 2021.
The project named, 'Rory's Miles 2 Mayo' will see Best walk 300 miles across nine days, beginning on May 16 and is estimated to finish on May 25, with Best finishing his trek on the site of the soon to be built second Cancer Fund for Children centre on the island of Ireland. 'Rory's Miles 2 Mayo' will see Best pass-through Dublin, Kildare, Laois, Tipperary, Limerick, Clare and Galway before ending up in Cong, Co Mayo, where the second Cancer Fund for Children's Daisy Lodge will be built.
Named after the first centre in Newcastle, Co Down, the Mayo based Daisy Lodge will be a much-needed therapeutic facility that will provide restorative short breaks for children with cancer and their families. It is due to be built on the shores of Lough Corrib near Cong, Co Mayo.
Joined on his walk by some of the families that Cancer Fund for Children support as well as former teammates, public figures, sponsors and supporters of the charity, 'Rory's Miles 2 Mayo' will be a challenge for Best, but it is for a worthy cause.
“I’m taking on a mammoth walking challenge in support of Cancer Fund for Children this May”, said Rory of the challenge ahead.
“A childhood cancer diagnosis can impact on the whole family. Hospital appointments, treatment and the pressures of navigating this experience can leave a family feeling disconnected and exhausted. Short breaks at Daisy Lodge provide children with cancer, a space to rest, time with their families and build connections with others their own age going through the same thing. They get to be treated like the stars they are and that’s why I’m delighted to be doing my bit to help bring another therapeutic facility like this to Co Mayo. This challenge is being generously sponsored by The Ardonagh Group, Arachas and Kingsbridge Private Hospital so I want to give a special thanks to them for making this possible.”
Cancer Fund for Children works closely with Children’s Health Ireland at Crumlin Hospital where they have recently recruited a Cancer Support Specialist on St John’s Ward. The charity has also recruited a community-based cancer support specialist in Galway to provide informal therapeutic, emotional, and social support to children diagnosed with cancer and their families. These roles have been developed in partnership with The Katie Nugent Fund and Children’s Health Foundation. Three more community-based roles are due to be filled in the coming months.
“Every week across Ireland, 10 children and young people (aged 0-24 ) are diagnosed with cancer” said Phil Alexander, CEO, Cancer Fund for Children, “We understand the devastating impact a cancer diagnosis and its treatment can have on the whole family, and that beyond the essential medical care, many families need social and emotional support. Our aim is to empower, connect and strengthen children, young people and their families so they feel better equipped to deal with the impact of cancer. Each year, we support over 1,500 children and young people and 500 families impacted by cancer with therapeutic short breaks at Daisy Lodge in Newcastle Co. Down, the inspiration for our second centre to be built in Cong. Once Daisy Lodge Mayo is operational, we will be able to support more than double the number of families each year.”
You can get behind Rory this May and help him go the distance to ensure no child has to face cancer alone. Take on your own fundraising challenge or donate to Rory’s by visiting the website at www.rorysmiles2mayo.com
