(Pictured (on bicycle) is Ms Patricia Rowley, breast cancer survivor and member of Kilmacud Crokes GAA Club in Stillorgan, at the official launch of this year’s Nissan Mizen to Malin Head Charity Cycle.)
Almost 90 members of Kilmacud Crokes GAA Club in Stillorgan, will hit the (long!) road over the June Bank Holiday (Wednesday 1st June – 5th June) to complete the Nissan Mizen to Malin Challenge to raise funds which will be shared between Breast Cancer Ireland and the Kilmacud Crokes Club.
This is the fifth time this challenge has been undertaken by the club and the numbers of eager participants continues to grow.
Leading the charge on the day will be Pat Rowley, a breast cancer survivor who exactly one year to the day from the cycle (1st June 2021) walked into her first oncology treatment, and has since undergone surgery, but is now fighting fit and ready to face take on the 670KM cycle on 1st June 2022.
Pictured (L-R) are Professor Arnold Hill, Chairman of Breast Cancer Ireland and leading breast surgeon, along with Ms Patricia Rowley, Photograph: Leon Farrell / Photocall Ireland
The group is set to cycle 670km in total and has raised an incredible €420k for the beneficiaries over the course of the last four events.
The cycle is set to commence from Mizen Head, West Cork, bright and early on Wednesday 1st June, after the group travels down by bus from Dublin.
It will wind its way up the West Coast of the country, arriving at Malin Head on Sunday 5th June, from where the undoubtedly weary group will stay overnight, having a well-earned last night in Donegal, and travel back to Dublin by bus on bank holiday Monday 6th June.
CEO of Breast Cancer Ireland, Aisling Hurley said: “We’re thrilled that the Nissan M2M Challenge is taking place again this year, particularly after the pandemic of 2020/2021, and would urge all of our loyal Breast Cancer Ireland Ambassadors, Patient Supporters, Volunteers and local residents of the towns and villages along the route to come out and show support for the brave cyclists as they pass by your door over the June Bank Holiday weekend – many will be wearing their distinctive Nissan cycling attire with Breast Cancer Ireland and Kilmacud Crokes logos so will be hard to miss!
Events such as this are an incredibly important source of funding for what is Ireland’s leading breast cancer charity, tasked with changing the landscape of breast cancer treatment into the future”
Chairman of the event fundraising committee, Brendan Sweeney said: “We’re looking forward to a bumper year this year, having had to pause our efforts since 2018, and hoping for some good weather and support from communities along the way.
“It’s a fairly gruelling journey, but great fun too, and most importantly, the challenge raises much needed funds for both Breast Cancer Ireland and our club so is worth every ounce of effort”
Seamus Morgan, Managing Director of Nissan Ireland, which has sponsored the event since its inception, added “We are delighted to sponsor this impressive challenge once again this year, and to play our part in helping to raise both funds and awareness around good breast health.
“Sadly, we all know someone who has been touched by breast cancer, and it feels right for an organization such as ourselves with a presence in the towns and cities across Ireland to play our part in helping to fight a disease that affects no less than one in nine Irish women”
Each cyclist makes a personal contribution of 300 euro towards their costs.
Nissan Ireland have sponsored the cycling gear and polo shirts for the cyclists and support team and the motor group will provide three NV400 support vehicles along the route.
You can sponsor a cyclist at https://eventmaster.ie/fundraising/campaign/The_Nissan_M2M_Challenge_Fundraising_Campaign or Text “Cure” to 50300 to donate €4.00 to Breast Cancer Ireland.