Childhood friends halfway to Oz on cycle to raise money for the Irish Cancer Society
They’ve cycled through vineyards in Italy and France, over snowy mountains in Turkey and Iran, and navigated the blistering heat and crazy roads of India and now, seven months into an epic adventure, Aidan Murphy and Paul Quinn have reached the half-way point unscathed. Well, mostly unscathed, unless you count being held at gunpoint in Iran, something the boys admit was a little scary but, on the whole, seem to have taken in their stride. The Dublin and Tyrone duo behind the Cycle to Oz adventure are thrilled to have 7,000km under their belt on a trek they devised to raise money for the Irish Cancer Society and Alzheimer’s Society, causes very close to their hearts.
Aidan lost his mother to breast cancer when he was just five and Paul’s grandmother, who he cared for prior the trip, suffers from Alzheimer’s. The two childhood friends set off on the journey, which they are personally funding, last year on Saturday, 1 st September, with no support crew and no team around them – just two bikes, two tents, a map and a six pack of tayto. Still manoeuvring their way through the challenging Indian landscape, next up is Vietnam, then Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and finally, fingers crossed, an epic conclusion in Australia.
To date they have raised more than €20,000 for their charities and now that they have reached the halfway mark, they’re hoping for a second push to drive their fundraising up and help them raise a huge €40,000. Aidan said today: “We were definitely worried setting off about the dangers that would greet us in the various countries, and we certainly have encountered a few, not least being mistaken for terrorists in Iran, but now we have this much under our belt we know we can complete the challenge and want to raise as much money as possible for our charities.”
John McCormack, CEO, Irish Cancer Society said, “The Irish Cancer Society is working to achieve a future without cancer. To turn our vision into reality we need continued support from the public. Seeing two people take on such a huge challenge is an inspiration to us all. I would like to thank Aidan and Paul for the time and dedication they have put into raising money for the Irish Cancer Society. For the last 50 years it is volunteers and fundraisers like them that have been the lifeblood of our organisation making our work possible. This continued support is essential to our future success, to best support those with and affected by cancer in Ireland.”
More than 26,000 people in Ireland will be diagnosed with cancer this year. The Irish Cancer Society is Ireland’s national cancer charity. Funds raised for the Irish Cancer Society will; help provide information, support and care to those with, and affected by, cancer in Ireland; fund research projects to improve diagnostic test and treatments for people with cancer; fund advocacy campaigns, ensuring that Ireland has world class cancer services.
For more information on how you can support Cycle to Oz visit www.mycharity.ie/event/cycle-to-oz/
For further information, please contact Deborah Kearney 087 752 7371.
