This year, the guys are embarking on a cycling adventure through Connemara.

They'll kick off from Galway City, navigating the scenic byways towards Oughterard. They'll tackle the exhilarating ascent with its breathtaking views overlooking Rosaveel, then coast along to Cashel village.

Day two promises a diverse landscape, passing the stunning shores of Gurteen and Dogs Bay before facing the challenging incline of the Sky Road in Clifden.

The journey culminates on the final day, tracing a route through quaint small roads flanked by the Partry Mountains, skirting past Castlebar, and ultimately aiming for the picturesque destination of Ballina.

All funds raised from the 2024 Cycle will help purchase a Therakos Cellex Photopheresis System for CHI at Crumlin.

To enhance the care of bone marrow transplant patients, it is crucial for Children’s Health Ireland to acquire a Therakos Cellex Photopheresis System. This advanced equipment is necessary for providing Extracorporeal Photopheresis (ECP), a vital treatment currently unavailable in Ireland.

Extracorporeal Photopheresis (ECP) is a type of apheresis that involves treating blood outside the body:

1. "Extracorporeal" means outside the body.

2. "Photopheresis" combines "photo" (light) and "apheresis" (separation).

In ECP, a small portion of the patient’s blood cells is collected and treated with light before being returned to the body. Each year, many children in Ireland who undergo bone marrow transplants qualify for ECP but cannot access it locally. Unfortunately, these children are often too ill to travel abroad for this treatment, leading to the use of highly immunosuppressive alternatives that result in increased illness and prolonged hospital stays.

For those treated abroad, such as in Manchester or Newcastle, the absence of ECP services in Ireland means extended stays overseas for ongoing follow-up care. This situation imposes significant emotional, mental, financial, and logistical challenges on the patients and their families.

Securing this grant for the Therakos Cellex Photopheresis System will be invaluable, allowing many families in Ireland to access essential ECP treatment locally, thus alleviating the associated burdens and improving patient outcomes.

Thank you for your continued support.