Episode Details

Ireland and Ulster rugby legend Rory Best together with 21 business leaders undertaking the 378km Rory’s Miles to Mayo ─ the Trilogy walking challenge around the island of Ireland for Cancer Fund for Children will reach Galway city this afternoon (arriving at approximately 5pm). 

Rory Best’s former teammate, Ireland and Connacht rugby player Bundee Aki will join the walkers at Oranmore for the final stretch to Eyre Square.

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.

Rory’s Miles to 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 nationwide insurance broker with 16 offices across Ireland, 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.

The penultimate day of the nine-day walk will see Rory and his team walk from Loughrea to Eyre Square in Galway city, passing through Carrabane, Knockaunglass, Athenry, Ross, Oranbeg, Oranmore and Ballybane along the 44.3km day-eight route.

The Rory’s Miles to Mayo ─ the Trilogy challenge will finish this 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 to 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.

As he set off on his leg to Galway City, Rory spoke to John Mulligan