Best headed for Limerick | RM2M | Cancer Fund for Children

Best Headed for Limerick on 300km Endurance Challenge across Ireland to support children with cancer

Former Ireland and Ulster Rugby Captain Rory Best is headed for Limerick as he embarks on a 300km endurance challenge across Ireland to support children diagnosed with cancer and their families.

The rugby legend is taking on his second ‘Rory’s Miles 2 Mayo’ challenge from 16^th-25^thMay to help children’s cancer charity, Cancer Fund for Children build a new therapeutic short break centre for children and families navigating the challenges of a childhood cancer diagnosis.

Rory will walk from the Aviva Stadium in Dublin to the site of this new therapeutic facility, Daisy Lodge, on the shores of Lough Corrib in Cong, County Mayo. On his journey he will travel through Dublin, Kildare, Laois, Tipperary before arriving in Limerick on 21^st May. From there he is heading on to Clare and Galway before arriving at his final destination – Cong in Co. Mayo, with the aim of raising €2 million to make this much needed centre a reality and help ensure no child has to face cancer alone.

I’m delighted to be doing my bit to help bring another therapeutic facility to Ireland for families impacted by childhood cancer and am looking forward to visiting Limerick on my journey and stopping by the new International Rugby Experience.

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 things. They get to be treated like the stars they are. This challenge is being generously sponsored by The Ardonagh Group, Arachas Corporate Brokers and Kingsbridge Private Hospital and I want to give a special thanks to them for making this possible.

Former Ireland and Ulster Rugby Captain, Rory Best

On his arrival in Limerick Rory will be welcomed to the city by Garda escort as he walks through the University of Limerick Campus and into the city centre before arriving at the International Rugby Experience on O’Connell Street.

Rory is undertaking an epic challenge to raise funds for Cancer Fund for Children. We will be delighted to welcome him to the International Rugby Experience – the Home of Legends – when he arrives in Limerick and would encourage people to come out to O’Connell Street on the day to support him.

Barry Hannon, CEO of the International Rugby Experience

Every week across Ireland, 10 children and young people (aged 0-24) are diagnosed with cancer. Cancer Fund for Children understands 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. Funds raised through the Rory’s Miles 2 Mayo campaign will go towards the building of Daisy Lodge in Cong, Co. Mayo, a therapeutic short break centre for children impacted by cancer and their families. This will be Cancer Fund for Children’s second therapeutic centre, inspired by Daisy Lodge in Co. Down which has supported over 3,300 families from across the island of Ireland since it opened in 2014.

Find out more about Cancer Fund for Children by visiting www.cancerfundforchildren.com. You can also get behind Rory’s challenge and help him go the distance this May by visiting www.rorysmiles2mayo.com.

Rory’s Miles 2 Mayo is sponsored by the Ardonagh Group, Arachas Corporate Brokers and Kingsbridge Private Hospital.