Former Ireland, Lions and Ulster Rugby Captain Rory Best arrived at The International Rugby Experience, on Sunday, 21st May, in Limerick as part of his Rory’s Miles 2 Mayo challenge, a 330km trek in aid of children’s cancer charity, Cancer Fund for Children.
Rory arrived at this world class facility at approximately 4.30pm, having walked almost 200km from the Aviva Stadium in Dublin which he took off from on Tuesday 16th May. Rory was welcomed to the city by Garda escort as he walked through the University of Limerick Campus and into the city centre before arriving at the International Rugby Experience on O’Connell Street.
Rory was accompanied by 15 supporters made up of friends, family, former teammates and sponsors and was welcomed to the experience by Paul O’Connell, Former Lions, Ireland and Munster Captain and now International Rugby Experience Chairman.
Speaking on this visit, Barry Hannon, CEO of the International Rugby Experience said, “We were delighted to welcome Rory to the International Rugby Experience today. The Miles 2 Mayo challenge is a huge undertaking by Rory, and Cancer Fund for Children is such a worthy cause. We wish Rory and all the team behind him the very best for the last few days of the challenge”.
This is Day 6 of Rory’s 10-day challenge, travelling from Dublin to Mayo and covering over 330km to help Cancer Fund for Children support even more children and young people impacted by cancer through the build of Daisy Lodge, a therapeutic short break centre for families experiencing childhood cancer, to be built in Cong, Co. Mayo. Rory is hoping to raise €2 million to make this much needed centre a reality and help ensure no child has to face cancer alone.
The next leg of Rory’s journey will see him travel through Clare and Galway before arriving in Co. Mayo on Thursday 25th May.
Speaking on his challenge Rory said,
I’m delighted to finish day 6 of my Rory’s Miles 2 Mayo Challenge at the impressive International Rugby experience. I was in Limerick last month for the official opening and it’s great to be back here again today. I have undertaken this challenge to do my bit for children across the island of Ireland diagnosed with cancer and their families. 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.
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.
