Malin to Mizen cycle raises €47,000
"If someone told us in January, 'You'll hit €20,000, €10,000 for each,' we'd have been absolutely delighted. We couldn't get over it."
Those were the words of Liam O'Connor after arriving back to his home village of Kiskeam after successfully cycling from Malin Head to Mizen Head in aid of the Children's Health Foundation (CHF) and Marymount University Hospital and Hospice, for whom they had raised €47,000.
Liam along with nine other cyclists set of on their 632km journey in May, and spent four days crossing Ireland at its longest.
On their return to Kiskeam, the group was welcomed by hundreds lining the streets, and music from the Kiskeam Brass Band.
"That was class," said Liam. He had decided to take part in the cycle due to the care given to his daughter Emily by all the staff at Children's Health Ireland (CHI) at Crumlin.
In 2022, Emily had been experiencing repeated chest infections when the family's GP detected a heart murmur and referred her to Crumlin. An appointment followed that March and tests showed that Emily, then four year old, had an atrial and septal defect.
The family were told that she would require open-heart surgery. "It was all very new to us," Liam said. "They said, 'This is a very regular operation here', but it is still serious."
Emily underwent surgery just before the June Bank Holiday weekend and everything went well. What Liam said he remembers in particular was the number of people involved in caring for Emily.
He recalls being told that around 30 members of staff had played some part in Emily's care, from administrative staff and the medical team to a play therapist physiotherapists who helped get her moving again after surgery.
The practical support also mattered. Liam's wife Anita was able to remain with Emily while he stayed in accommodation on the hospital site, just minutes away.
Today, Emily is nine and doing brilliantly. Her hospital appointments have become increasingly infrequent and she is busy with school, gymnastics, football, and drama.
"She's a character, just mad for all things," said Liam.
The idea that the group would eventually raise so much began quite casually. Liam and his friend Dáire Murphy had been taking part in a Quest adventure event in Killarney when talk turned to whether they might be capable of tackling Malin to Mizen.
After some discussion and "a couple of pints", the idea began to sound plausible.
Those who took part - ten finished the entire route - were not professional cyclists, though some had completed the Ring of Kerry and other charity cycles.
The initial target of €15,000-€20,000 was to be split between the charities, but by the time they arrived back in Kiskeam they had doubled that number.
"The lads were checking, and they were like 'Oh my God, it's gone up another €3,000 since we left such and such a place," said Liam.
He said that the scale of the response said a great deal about Kiskeam and the surrounding community. It left him convinced that people should not be afraid to try their own fundraiser, however ambitious the idea might initially seem. But what was important was the support of the community.
"We took the chance and it just worked out well. There's no way it would have happened without the assistance of the small village behind us," he said.
Following on from the money raised by Liam and his friends, CHF is encouraging people across Ireland to get involved in Trick or Treat for Sick Children. Whether by hosting a Halloween party, or by organising a spooky fundraiser, every contribution will help CHF support sick children receiving care at CHI hospitals and urgent care centres.