Rugby legend Rory Best helps raise €4.2 million to support children with cancer
Ireland and Ulster rugby legend Rory Best and a team of 21 business leaders successfully completed the 378km, nine-day Rory’s Miles to Mayo ─ the Trilogy walking challenge, bringing the total raised by Rory’s three Rory’s Miles 2 Mayo fundraisers to around €4.2 million.
After walking for nine days, Rory and his fellow participants reached their final destination, our second Daisy Lodge therapeutic short break centre for children and families impacted by a cancer diagnosis in Cong, Co Mayo, late on Sunday afternoon.
The 21 participants were set a target to raise €50,000 each which they all successfully achieved, helping Rory’s Miles to Mayo ─ the Trilogy raise around €1.7 million when combined with other donations.
Rory’s Miles to Mayo ─ the Trilogy was the final part of a series of three physical fundraising challenges led by Rory Best for our services. Combined, the three challenges will have raised around €4.2 million to help us provide and expand our support services for children and families impacted by a cancer diagnosis.
At the nearly completed Daisy Lodge in Cong, we were proud to unveil a commemorative stone monument to Rory Best that will be displayed on the grounds of Daisy Lodge in Cong in recognition of the rugby legend’s contribution to its development.
Three years ago, we turned the first sod at the site of the Daisy Lodge centre in Cong at the end of our first Rory’s Miles to Mayo challenge, so to come full circle and finish the final stage of the trilogy at the nearly completed centre, was incredibly special.
Short breaks at Daisy Lodge provide children with cancer a space to rest, time with their families and the opportunity to build connections with others their own age who are going through the same thing. Here they get to be treated like the stars they are.
I’m absolutely blown away by the support of the extremely generous people who participated in the walk and those who supported our fundraising goals. Though the walk was one of the hardest physical challenges I’ve ever undertaken, knowing the funds raised will go towards helping Cancer Fund for Children run its vital Daisy Lodge centre for children and families going through inconceivably tough times made every step completely worth it.
Though Rory’s Miles to Mayo ─ the Trilogy has ended, fundraising efforts do not and I encourage anyone to consider donating to the fundraiser to make sure no child faces cancer alone.
Rory Best
Rory’s Miles to Mayo was generously supported by headline sponsor Arachas Corporate Brokers and supporting sponsor Kingsbridge Private Hospital Group.