Ardonagh’s Director of Development, ACT Trustee and former Ulster, Ireland, British & Irish Lions Captain, Rory Best completed his 180 mile Miles2Mayo challenge raising over £500,000 for children’s cancer charity, Cancer Fund for Children, during Childhood Cancer Awareness.
On his epic journey he passed through six counties, 30 towns and villages and was joined for short periods by families affected by cancer as well as some notable names from sport and entertainment including Tommy Bowe, Jacob Stockdale, Tadhg Furlong, Rob Kearney, Robert Balocoune, Bundee Aki, Conor Murray, Conor McManus and well-known tv chef and personality Neven Maguire.
The money raised will go towards building a much needed second Daisy Lodge therapeutic centre in Co. Mayo for children with a cancer diagnosis and their families. Cancer Fund for Children’s services include restorative breaks at Daisy Lodge which is set at the foot of the Mourne Mountains. Short breaks allow families to spend quality time together in a safe and nurturing environment, far removed from hospital wards and treatment regimes. However, for every family the charity can support across Ireland there are another six they cannot which is why they urgently need to build a second facility in Co. Mayo.
Speaking about his incredible achievement Rory said,
In terms of endurance walking over 20 miles a day for nine days was tough, but it is nowhere near as tough as the challenges families living with childhood cancer face. Along my journey I heard some heart-breaking and inspiring stories from children, parents, and health professionals. Whilst the care children diagnosed with cancer receive in hospital is excellent, it is clear that they really benefit from the emotional and therapeutic support provided by Cancer Fund for Children. Daisy Lodge in Newcastle Co. Down can accommodate around 500 families a year and the charity simply cannot meet the demand for support. They can currently only provide short breaks to 23% of children diagnosed with cancer across Ireland which is why a new Daisy Lodge in Mayo is vital. I would like to thank everyone who has got behind me on this challenge - my wife Jodie, my kids, my family and friends, our sponsors and of course everyone who has donated so generously.
Rory Best, ACT Trustee and former Ulster, Ireland, British & Irish Lions Captain
This is an incredible effort by Rory Best and we cannot thank him and his family enough. It is our hope that Rory has motivated and inspired others to do whatever they can to help us support families with a cancer diagnosis north and south and ensure that no child ever has to face cancer alone.
