Fordstown family to join rugby legend Rory Best to support children affected by cancer

Seven-year-old Senán Smyth from Girley, Fordstown will join Ireland and Ulster rugby legend Rory Best and 21 business leaders for part of the 378km Rory’s Miles 2 Mayo: the Trilogy walking challenge around the island of Ireland for Cancer Fund for Children.

Cancer Fund for Children is an all-island charity that provides emotional, social and therapeutic support to children, young people and families impacted by cancer, including from Meath.

Rory’s Miles 2 Mayo ─ the Trilogy is the final part of a series of three physical fundraising challenges led by Rory Best for Cancer Fund for Children, which have raised over €2.5 million to date.

Rory’s Miles to Mayo is supported by headline sponsor Arachas Corporate Brokers, Ireland’s largest insurance broker with 16 offices across the country, which has raised funds for Cancer Fund for Children across all of the Rory’s Miles to Mayo challenges since 2021. Kingsbridge Private Hospital Group is on board as a supporting sponsor and has also been committed to this challenge since its inception.

Senán, whose younger brother Caolán, who turns five next month, October, is being supported by Cancer Fund for Children, will join Rory and his team of walkers on day four of the challenge on Tuesday, 15th September, for part of the route travelling through neighbouring county Kildare.

The Rory’s Miles 2 Mayo ─ the Trilogy challenge will start from Derry-Londonderry on 12th September and is travelling through Belfast, Dublin, Kildare, Carlow, Cork, Limerick and Galway before finishing on Sunday, 20th September in Cong, Co Mayo.

Cong is the location of Cancer Fund for Children’s second Daisy Lodge therapeutic short break centre for children and families impacted by a cancer diagnosis, currently nearing completion and due to open in 2027.

The fundraising target for Rory’s Miles 2 Mayo ─ the Trilogy is around €1.5 million, which will go towards equipping Daisy Lodge in Cong, and help get it ready for opening its doors next year to enable Cancer Fund for Children to support more children and families.

Rory Best’s latest challenge will take him full circle ─ his inaugural Rory’s Miles to Mayo in 2021 saw him walk from Cancer Fund for Children’s first Daisy Lodge in Newcastle, Co. Down to Cong, Co Mayo, where he broke ground at the site of the second Daisy Lodge. In 2023, a second Rory’s Miles to Mayo challenge saw him walk from Dublin’s Aviva Stadium to Cong. This time, Rory will get to see Daisy Lodge in Cong at near completion.

Speaking ahead of his biggest challenge yet, Rory Best, said: “It is an honour to lead this series of physical fundraising challenges in support of the amazing work of Cancer Fund for Children and I’m excited to be taking on the third and final challenge, with an incredible team of business leaders and surrounded by a passionate crew of supporters.

“Though it will be a strenuous undertaking, the motivation of supporting a charity doing such vital work for families and children facing the heartbreaking realities of a cancer diagnosis, including from Meath and across the island, will drive us towards the finish line in Cong, Co Mayo. It will be emotional and very rewarding to see how work is nearing completion on the second Daisy Lodge to help more children and families who are going through very tough times.”

CEO of Cancer Fund for Children Phil Alexander said: “Across the last five years, Rory Best has created a legacy of fundraising which has completely blown us away. From taking on his own Miles to Mayo challenges, to inspiring countless other campaigns, including the 26 Mountains to Mayo challenge last year which raised €1.8m in aid of our services. The funds raised through these efforts have allowed us to provide vital support to children, young people and families impacted by cancer, including from Meath and across the island of Ireland, in hospital, at home and at our therapeutic short break centre Daisy Lodge.

“As Cancer Fund for Children continues to expand, our investment in Daisy Lodge Cong demonstrates the growing need for our services as well as our commitment to supporting children and families affected by the extremely harsh realities of a cancer diagnosis across the island.”

Find out more about this charity challenge and how you can get behind Rory Best and the participants by clicking here.