Major Irish sports star to lead 378km walking challenge from Carlow

Rory’s Miles 2 Mayo: the Trilogy ─ the 378km walking challenge around the island of Ireland currently being undertaken by rugby legend Rory Best and 21 business leaders for Cancer Fund for Children ─ will pass through Carlow next Wednesday, September 16.

Cancer Fund for Children is an all-island charity that provides emotional, social and therapeutic support to children, young people and families impacted by cancer, including in Carlow.

Rory’s Miles 2 Mayo ─ the Trilogy is the final part of a series of three physical fundraising challenges led by Rory Best for Cancer Fund for Children, which have raised over €2.5 million to date.

Rory’s Miles to Mayo is supported by headline sponsor Arachas Corporate Brokers, Ireland’s largest insurance broker, with 16 offices across the country, which has raised funds for Cancer Fund for Children across all of the Rory’s Miles to Mayo challenges since 2021.

Kingsbridge Private Hospital Group is on board as a supporting sponsor and has also been committed to this challenge since its inception.

Day five of the nine-day walk will see Rory and his team walking 40km from Carlow Castle to Kilkenny Castle, passing through Williamstown, Cloghristick, Powerstown, Leighlinbridge and Moneybeg in Co Carlow.

The Rory’s Miles 2 Mayo ─ the Trilogy challenge will finish on Sunday, 20th September in Cong, Mayo. Cong is the location of Cancer Fund for Children’s second Daisy Lodge therapeutic short break centre for children and families impacted by a cancer diagnosis, currently nearing completion and due to open in 2027.

The fundraising target for Rory’s Miles 2 Mayo ─ the Trilogy is around €1.5 million, which will go towards equipping Daisy Lodge in Cong, and help get it ready for opening its doors next year to enable Cancer Fund for Children to support more children and families.

Rory Best’s latest challenge will take him full circle ─ his inaugural Rory’s Miles 2 Mayo in 2021 saw him walk from Cancer Fund for Children’s first Daisy Lodge in Newcastle, Co. Down to Cong, Co Mayo, where he broke ground at the site of the second Daisy Lodge.

In 2023, a second Rory’s Miles to Mayo challenge saw him walk from Dublin’s Aviva Stadium to Cong.

This time, Rory will get to see Daisy Lodge in Cong at near completion.

Speaking ahead of his biggest challenge yet, Rory Best, said: “It is an honour to lead this series of physical fundraising challenges in support of the amazing work of Cancer Fund for Children and I’m excited to be taking on the third and final challenge, with an incredible team of business leaders and surrounded by a passionate crew of supporters.

“Though it will be a strenuous undertaking, the motivation of supporting a charity doing such vital work for families and children facing the heartbreaking realities of a cancer diagnosis, including from Carlow and Kilkenny and across the island, will drive us towards the finish line in Cong, Co Mayo. It will be emotional and very rewarding to see how work is nearing completion on the second Daisy Lodge to help more children and families who are going through very tough times.”

CEO of Cancer Fund for Children Phil Alexander said: “Across the last five years, Rory Best has created a legacy of fundraising which has completely blown us away. From taking on his own Miles to Mayo challenges, to inspiring countless other campaigns, including the 26 Mountains to Mayo challenge last year which raised €1.8m in aid of our services. The funds raised through these efforts have allowed us to provide vital support to children, young people and families impacted by cancer, including from Carlow and Kilkenny and across the island of Ireland, in hospital, at home and at our therapeutic short break centre Daisy Lodge.

“As Cancer Fund for Children continues to expand, our investment in Daisy Lodge Cong demonstrates the growing need for our services as well as our commitment to supporting children and families affected by the extremely harsh realities of a cancer diagnosis across the island.”

Speaking about their backing of the challenge, Kieran Dwyer, Director of Broking, South East at Arachas Corporate Brokers said: “Arachas is proud to once again support Rory’s Miles to Mayo, having been a core supporter since the beginning. I’m looking forward to walking in Carlow and Kilkenny as part of the challenge. We hope our colleagues, customers and the wider public, will get behind the challenge and help make this year’s fundraising effort a huge success.”

Find out more about this charity challenge and how you can get behind Rory Best and the participants by visiting https://rorysmiles2mayo.cancerfundforchildren.com.