Frequently Asked Questions
In 2021, Rory walked from Cancer Fund for Children’s therapeutic short break centre in Newcastle, Co. Down to the site of our second centre to be built on the shores of Lough Corrib in Cong, Co. Mayo. He put his mental and physical endurance to the test and raised vital funds so we could support even more families impacted by cancer.
This May, Rory will be embarking on another epic challenge so we can be there for even more families. Rory will be walking from Dublin to Mayo with the aim of raising €2 million to support us as we expand our services.
Since Rory’s walk in 2021 we have expanded our services across the island of Ireland, employing new staff and progressing with the build of Daisy Lodge.
We have recruited Cancer Support Specialists based on St. John’s Ward in Children’s Health Ireland at Crumlin to provide informal social and emotional support to families. We have also recruited our first community based Cancer Support Specialist in Galway to provide support to families navigating a childhood cancer diagnosis at home and in their communities. We are also recruiting three more Cancer Support Specialists to be based in Dublin, Cavan and Westmeath and Cork. These roles are delivered in partnership with the Kate Nugent Fund.
We are continuing to with our Daisy Lodge build in Cong, Co. Mayo and have worked hard to prepare the grounds for building across the next few years, clearing pathways and restoring roads so that families can explore the stunning woodlands during their visits. Currently, we can only provide one in seven families across Ireland with a therapeutic, short break at Daisy Lodge in Co. Down which is why we are raising funds to build a second centre in Co. Mayo. Once Daisy Lodge Mayo is operational, we will be able to support more than double the number of families we can currently.
All of this progress would not have been possible without your amazing support during Rory’s challenge in 2021 and we hope you can get behind us again this May.
There are so many ways to get behind Rory this May and help him support children and families navigating a cancer experience.
- Organise your own challenge to help raise vital funds and raise awareness of Rory’s challenge. Whether it be a sponsored walk of your own, coffee morning or an event with your workplace or community group, all efforts will make such a difference in helping to make this centre a reality in Cong.
- Donate to Rory’s challenge via our website and help him reach his fundraising target.
- Follow Rory’s journey on our social media channels and share with your own followers to help raise awareness of the impact of cancer on young people and families.
To find out more, just visit our website cancerfundforchildren.com/rorysmiles2mayo. You can also organise fundraising events within your school, workplace or community group. Just download the specific fundraising pack from the website or reach out to our fundraising team at [email protected].
In 2021, Rory Best raised €1 million in support of children and families impacted by cancer. This year, he is upping the challenge and upping the target with the aim of raising €2 million.
The money raised will go towards building Daisy Lodge in Cong, Co. Mayo, a therapeutic short break centre for children impacted by cancer across Ireland and their families. This will be Cancer Fund for Children’s second centre, inspired by their current Daisy Lodge in Newcastle, Co. Down which has supported over 4,000 families from across the island of Ireland since it opened in 2014.
We hope to commence the build later in 2023. This will involve putting in place roads, car parking and plant infrastructure for the 30-acre forested site and constructing the ‘main building’ – Daisy Lodge, Co. Mayo, where families experiencing cancer will stay. Our aim to have our therapeutic centre built and operational by January 2025.
The build will cost in the region of €15 million. Our costs have increased over the last couple of years due to the increase in raw materials.
We are so lucky that Rory is choosing to push himself to his physical limits to raise money for Cancer Fund for Children. We are also lucky to have such wonderful supporters of Rory’s such as The Ardonagh Group, Arachas and Kingsbridge Private Hospital who have very generously sponsored Rory’s Miles 2 Mayo challenge which has helped cover some of the necessary costs needed to put on this challenge.
Rory’s ambitious target of raising €2 million is a huge undertaking and we are so grateful to businesses and groups from across the island of Ireland who are also helping Rory by offering gifts in kind such as free accommodation and catering. This means that most of the money Rory raises will go directly towards helping Cancer Fund for Children support more children and their families impacted by cancer.
Unfortunately, due to insurance and road safety we are not able to have members of the public join Rory on the road. You can show your support by cheering him on from the roadside in your town or village or taking on your own walk at a time and place that suits you best. The safety of Rory, the public, and the Miles2Mayo team are our top priority.
You can find an overview of Rory’s route each day on our website. Live updates and daily schedules will be featured on our social media channels.
Rory will not have minute-by-minute tracking, but location updates will be regularly added to our social media channels. Each morning a route and estimated times of arrival will be shared.