Bitten by the bug-gy

A Northside fundraiser has been bitten by the buggy push bug.

Last month, Eugene O’Leary (72), from Howth, successfully completed a buggy push across Ireland to raise money for an orphanage in Belarus.

The event has so far raised approximately

?¬3,300 for the Chernobyl Children’s Trust.

Local musicians are taking part in a concert at the Abbey Tavern, Howth, on the evening of Saturday, July 11, to try and bring Eugene’s total up to his target of

?¬5,000.

Eugene has planned a major fundraising buggy push for the Chernobyl Children’s Trust for the August Bank Holiday weekend.

However, in order to keep his

“old engine ticking over

?, he has decided to do another buggy push this Saturday, May 30, from Balbriggan to Howth.

He is aiming to complete the route within 12 hours, departing from Balbriggan at 8.45am, and arriving at Skerries (10.05am), Rush (11.45am), Lusk (1.05pm), Swords (3.05pm), Malahide (4pm), Portmarnock (5pm), Baldoyle (6pm) and Sutton Cross (6.30pm) before finishing in Howth.

Eugene said:

“I will be carrying a spare donation bucket on the day, so I would really appreciate being met by a volunteer supporter as I approach each town or village along the way, who would be willing to do a quick whip-round in local pubs and shops.

?

To add a fun element to the event, Eugene is calling on people to bet

?¬5 against him completing the buggy push within his 12-hour target. He has vowed to honour all bets.

“I won’t fail so you will lose

?¬5 anyway,

? he joked.

Eugene, affectionately known as the

‘Pedalling Pensioner’, is no stranger to fundraising adventures.

Following the death of his daughter Helen in 2002, aged just 19, he took up long distance sponsored cycles in her memory, at home and abroad.

However, last month was the first time the avid cyclist left his bike at home.

He began walking with a child’s buggy at Slyne Head, Galway, on April 3, and after spending 207 gruelling miles on the road, arrived at Howth Head on April 11.

For more information on Eugene’s latest event, and to make a donation or place a bet, visit www.mycharity.ie/event/eugene_olearys_buggy_push/

You can also visit www.facebook.com/Eugeneolearybuggypush