Irish rugby legend calls on Carlow people to take part in fundraiser for children with cancer

Irish rugby legend Rory Best is calling on business leaders in Carlow to sign up to join him for his third Rory’s Miles to Mayo challenge in aid of Cancer Fund for Children.

It's an all-island charity that provides emotional, social, and therapeutic support to children, young people, and families impacted by cancer.

From 12th-20th September, Rory Best will captain a team of business leaders on a powerful journey – to walk nine marathons in nine days, covering over 235 miles throughout Ireland.

Each participant will walk around 50,000 steps daily across Carlow, Derry/Londonderry, Belfast, Dublin, Kildare, Cork, Limerick, and Galway before finishing in Cong, Co. Mayo.

This is the third chapter in a trilogy of fundraising walks created by the former Ireland and Ulster Rugby captain for Cancer Fund for Children.

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They were set up to help raise money to build a second therapeutic short break centre called Daisy Lodge on the shores of Lough Corrib in Cong, Co. Mayo.

"Across the last five years, I have seen this vision come to life, and this year’s challenge carries even more weight as Daisy Lodge is currently being built and is set to open in spring 2027. I’ve been privileged to turn the sod on this site and to see it go from an empty space full of potential to a working construction site, and finally to a safe space for families has been so amazing," Rory Best said.

In 2021, Rory completed his first Rory’s Miles to Mayo challenge, walking 180 miles from Cancer Fund for Children’s first Daisy Lodge in Newcastle, Co. Down to the site of their second centre in Cong, Co. Mayo, raising over €1 million.

The second Rory’s Miles to Mayo challenge in 2023 saw Rory walking 220 miles from Dublin’s Aviva Stadium to Cong, raising €1.5 million, breaking ground on the new Daisy Lodge on arrival.

In 2025, Rory’s mantle was taken up by a team of business leaders who took on the 26 Mountains to Mayo challenge, climbing the highest peak in every county across the island of Ireland. T

Together they raised over €1.8 million.

This year, both campaigns will come together for Rory’s Miles to Mayo – The Trilogy.

If you’re a business leader in Carlow who is interested in taking on this challenge, there’s still time to join the team by signing up here.