Our fund raising challenge this year was borne out of the personal tragedy suffered by our cycling comrade Robert, who lost his wife and our friend Susan to a massive stroke in May of this year.

I  and my cycling friends have been competing in cycling events
across Europe finishing L’Etape du Tour, La Marmotte, Maratona Dles
Dolomites and the Quebrantahuesos over the past four years. All were
endurance one day events averaging 175km and 4500m of climbing. This
year we set the bar somewhat higher, deciding to take on the Haute Route
 Dolomites Swiss Alps 2016 (Geneva to Venice) which covers 900km and
21,000 meters over seven days. It is believed to be the hardest event of
 its kind in the world.

All of us have young families, and have spent many hours in the waiting rooms up in Crumlin hospital for various issues. We have seen first hand how much a difference the provision of the Ronald McDonald House care has meant to families with children who are seriously ill and how it has provided that much need supportive environment in their hour of need.

Susan was a tremendously kind, caring and loving person who adored children. My teammates and I are hoping to honour Susan's memory, by completing this challenge and helping a very worthy cause. 

RMHC Ireland, help give families across Ireland hope and respite during some of the hardest moments of their
lives, by providing free accommodation that enables them to stay close
by to their children in hospital. We have targeted to raise €150,000 to
support RMHC in Ireland and the planned 53 bedroom Ronald McDonald House to support the new National Children’s Hospital in Dublin.

Thank you for supporting our challenge and enabling families to
 maintain a degree of normal life while their child is undergoing
medical treatment in Crumlin.

100% of the funds raised will be donated to RMHC Ireland (CHY12553).

If you would like to find about more about the challenge, please visit their website: www.hauteroute.org/events/stages/dolomites-swiss-alps-2016