From Marino to Mongolia

Doireann Brennan

TWO Northside men are taking on an unusual challenge in aid of Pieta House and Cystic Fibrosis Ireland. 

They want to raise awareness and money for these amazing organisations. 

Cian Hulm (26) and Luke Reilly (26), from Marino, have never taken on a challenge of this scale before. Cian has partaken in many charity events in recent years but nothing similar to this. 

The lads are funding this journey themselves and there is a lot of planning and paperwork involved in a trip of this magnitude. 

They have to apply for multiple visas and get a letter of invitation from one of the countries they will visit. This is only the tip of the iceberg in terms of the things to do before setting off.  

In July they are planning on driving from Marino to Mongolia a 10,000-mile journey in a 1-litre Dihatsu Charade. The trip will be between six to eight weeks long. Doing alternative shifts, they will be driving between 10 and 12 hours a day. 

They will travel over 100 miles without seeing a petrol station. They will have to carry extra fuel in the car, along with spare tyres and tool kits. 

They will be trekking across desserts including the Karakum and Kyzylkum and over mountain ranges. The trip will take them from Europe into Iran and then navigating their way around Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, into Russia and then finish up in Mongolia.

There are rumours that there is an Irish bar in a Mongolian town of Ulaanbaatar that serves Guinness and that’s where you will find the lads celebrating after they’ve completed their long and arduous journey.  

These young men chose Cystic Fibrosis Ireland because it is an organisation close to their hearts. Two family members have unfortunately died from the disease. 

They want to raise awareness as they also feel that it gets very little attention from the government. 

They chose Pieta House as Ireland has the fourth highest rate of suicide amongst teenagers in the EU. The lads want to do what they can to help. 

These are great causes. Please donate what you can. You can donate online on their website give.everydayhero.com/ie/rocky-road-to-mongolia 

Follow them on Facebook and Instagram ‘RockyRoadtoMongolia’.

For sponsorship opportunities contact Cian on 086-1023400 or email [email protected]