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David O'Donoghue
David O'Donoghue's Cancer Research Fundraising Cycle
Completed
Template Name : ring_of_kerry_2022

David O'Donoghue's Cancer Research Fundraising Cycle

#ROKCC2024

https://www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/DaveODonoghue

Ring of Kerry Charity Cycle 2022 - Breakthrough Cancer Research

I'm am going to cycle the Ring of Kerry (170KM) on the 2nd July 2022 in order to raise funds for Breakthrough Cancer Research. I need your support.

  • 1199.88 km Training Completed
Completed

3,165.00

Target : € 2,000.00

Killarney

1

First Donation

50

50% fundraising Target

Halfway

Halfway Distance point

Reach

Reach Fundraising Target

Killarney

In 2004, I lost my only sister, Laura, to cancer. I still have a vivid memory of the day that Laura informed me of her diagnosis. We shared a lot of tears in that moment. 18 years later, studies show that cancer is still the leading cause of death in Ireland. I am cycling the Ring of Kerry in the hope that we can prevent even one conversation between a Husband/Wife, Parent/Child, Sister/Brother, similar to the one I had with Laura.

 

Basically, I have 6 weeks to get ready for this event. I need to take my current abilitiy to cycle 50KM and build it to about 120KM over the next 6 weeks in order to have any chance of completing this event. It's going to be a challenge but also fun (I hope). You can hopefully see my progress by clicking on the My Training button.

 

Your support means so much! I hope you can help by donating whatever you can. Simply click the Donate Now button on this page. All donations are processed securely and funds raised will go directly to Breakthrough Cancer Research. You can also share my page using the Share options. This is a great way to show your support.

 

Many thanks

Dave

 

Read more about Ring of Kerry Charity Cycle 2022.

 

David O'Donoghue
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Supporters : 68

  • Online Donations €3165.00
  • Offline Donations €0.00
  • Diarmuid O'Neill

    22-07-2022
    €50.00
    Hi Diarmuid. This is great - thank you. I got a big thank you from the fantastic folks at Breakthrough Cancer Research for the amount raised during the week and people like yourself are still giving - amazing. I hope all is well. We should grab a coffee soon - Dave.
    24-07-2022
  • Daniel McElroy

    21-07-2022
    €25.00
    Hi Daniel. Thank you so much for your donation. I appreciate the post-event support. Every bit helps - Dave.
    21-07-2022
  • Simon O’Regan

    05-07-2022
    €30.00

    Best of luck Dave!

    Hiya Simon. It was cycle the Ring of Kerry or play Simon at Table Tennis. Ring of Kerry was the easier option. Thanks for the support and donation.
    05-07-2022
  • Siobhan and Aidan

    03-07-2022
    €50.00

    Congrats to you and the 2 boys, David. Amazing achievement and one you all should be very proud of. Well done! Aidan, Siobhan and boys.

    Aidan and Siobhan, thank you so much. I really appreciate it. See ya real soon.
    03-07-2022
  • Danielle O’Kelly

    02-07-2022
    €30.00

    Best of luck David!

    Hi Danielle. Thank you so much. I hope you are having a great holiday.
    03-07-2022
  • Val Maguire

    01-07-2022
    €30.00
    Hi Cuz. Thank you for your support and donation xx.
    03-07-2022
  • Johannes

    30-06-2022
    €30.00
    Hi Johannes, it has been a long time. I hope all is well with you? Thank you so much for your support. It is really appreciated.
    30-06-2022
  • Scott Cullen

    27-06-2022
    €20.00

    Best of luck Dave, Maith an fear! #GoNiners

    Thank you Scott. I appreciate the help and support - it means a lot to me coming from a Cullen. Less than 11 weeks to Week 1, so yes, #GoNiners
    27-06-2022
  • Orla Cullen

    27-06-2022
    €30.00

    Best wishes Dave & boys hope all goes well on 2/7/22

    Hi Orla. Thank you so much. I think all the Cullen clan have contributed to this page. Thank you to you and your boys. I am doing it for Laura but I will be thinking of Kevin too.
    27-06-2022
  • Sarah Farrell

    27-06-2022
    €30.00

    Amazing, best of luck Dave!

    Hiya Sarah. Thanks for the donation. I am sure you have heard loads about Laura from the Hogan boys. I believe every donation is gonna help make a difference, so thank you. It is really appreciated.
    27-06-2022

Recent Updates

David O'Donoghue
03 Jul 2022

It's done. The Ring of Kerry has been completed. On Saturday morning we left Killarney at 7:30am and cycled 60km through Killorglin, Kells and into Cahersiveen before taking our first food break. We then rode 78km, through Waterville, Caherdaniel, Sneem and into Kenmare for our second foodbreak. The final leg was only 33km long but it involved the most significant climb of the day over Molls Gap. It was really thrilling to arrive back in Killarney and complete the cycle. I felt such a huge responsibility to finish that I was terrified illness or maybe something mechanical might spoil the day and prevent me getting to the finish line. In fact, despite some inclement weather, we finished the route in 8 hours (including food breaks), which was significantly ahead of our expected finish time. The training obviously paid off. Thank you all for your support and encouragement. It made a huge difference. I really do believe that research will get on top of cancer and you have just helped us get a little closer to that reality. Go raibh mile maith agat - Dave.

David O'Donoghue
29 Jun 2022

After 7 weeks of training, amounting to 55 hours in the saddle, 1030km of road covered and 15,000 meters of mountains climbed, I am ready to go. Training was mostly fun but at times it was also hell. However, my overriding sentiment is that I feel incredibly lucky and privileged to be able to go and ride the Ring of Kerry. I am excited and looking forward to it now. Hopefully, the next time you hear from me, I will be updating you on my successful ride and sharing some pictures from the route. Wish me luck - Dave!

David O'Donoghue
23 Jun 2022

I am happy to report that today, we completed a route of 123KM and climbed a total of 1,892 meters. These are both single ride records for me personally. Minus snack breaks, we were on the road for 6 hours and 15 minutes. As with the other long rides we have done, the last 40km was brutal. There was a significant amount of climbing at the 90km mark which lasted for the bulk of the next 20km. I had nothing left in the tank. It was an exercise of sheer willpower or extreme stupidity - I will let you decide. The good news is that I have now achieved all my training goals. I may do a couple of short rides over the next week to stay loose but basically, I have done all I can in the time given to get ready for the event. Bring on Kerry.

David O'Donoghue
16 Jun 2022

On Wednesday, we completed our longest ride yet. We cycled 110KMs, climbed over 1,500 meters and spent over 5 hours in the saddle. This experience brought new meaning to the phrase - "a pain in my arse". I felt very strong for the first 70km but really suffered over the last 40km. In order to replicate the Ring of Kerry route, we planned this route so that we would have to do the biggest climb at the end. Between this and the extra distance, I had nothing left in the tank when I got home. Great to get it done but it also makes me wonder how I will deal with the extra 70km on the 2nd July. As bad as I felt last night, the good news is that I have recovered well overnight and feel really good today. One more session this week before trying for 120km next Wednesday.

David O'Donoghue
09 Jun 2022

On Wednesday, we cycled 74km. This was intentionally a short ride. We plan to do another short ride this Saturday before attempting 110kms next Wednesday. The following Wednesday, we will aim for 120km. Once that is complete, we hope to be in a position to attempt the 170km in Kerry on the 2nd July. The best thing about this update is me describing 74km and 1,300 meters climbed as a short ride. At one point, cycling 50kms seemed like such an achievement. Definitely feeling stronger.

David O'Donoghue
06 Jun 2022

On Saturday, Lee and I completed 100KM of cycling and over 1,600 meters of climbing. We were cycling for 5 hours but with food breaks, we were on the road for 5.5 hours. I felt great the first 60km but felt my left hamstring starting to pull soon after. It think it is fair to say that I limped home over the final 40km, pedalling as softly as I could in order to protect my hamstring. When I got home, I was concerned about my ability to add another 80km to the 100km I just completed. I am too tall and too heavy to be an endurance cyclist. My body was drained. However, after about 4 hours I could feel myself starting to recover. By Sunday morning, thankfully, I felt as good as new. Completing this is going to be a challenge. I love challenges.

David O'Donoghue
30 May 2022

80KM done. Got to admit I felt tired doing this ride. Felt like I was climbing Everest on the first hill and all I could think was, "I have another 75km of this". Thankfully, I got over that first climb and the ride got a little easier as we went on. There is something magical about being on a bike in the countryside compared to being in a car. You feel more immersed in your surroundings and Wicklow is just beautiful. We are aiming to do 100KM this weekend, so I am going to curtail the midweek activities a little in order to be fresh for Saturday. Bring it on!

David O'Donoghue
23 May 2022

70KM done! Left the house at 8am on Sunday and got home at noon. As you can see, I had some company. Both Darren and Lee are doing the #ROKCC2022, so we are making it a family affair. At the 50KM mark we stopped for 20 minutes to enjoy some coffee and snacks. It was probably the snacks but I felt much stronger coming home today than I did last week. Looking forward to the challenge of 80KM next weekend.

David O'Donoghue
14 May 2022

So, I got the 60KM ride done today with my son Lee. We went over the Dublin mountains to Sally Gap and then turned for Blessington and home via Bohernabreena. We climbed over 1,000M today which is the most I have ever done in a single ride. Not going to lie, I thought the last 10k was never going to end. It's the end of my first week training. I am tired but definitely feeling much stronger than a week ago. More sessions during the week and then 70KM next weekend. Finally, isn't Ireland beautiful when the sun is shinning.

David O'Donoghue
11 May 2022

Covid is behind me and my training has started. I did manage to get up to Sally Gap on my first ride but I felt absolutely awful on the way. Of course, that's exactly how I expected to feel. I have had a couple of shorter mid-week sessions since. The aim is to hit the 60KM for my long ride this weekend and keep adding 10KM to that weekend ride until I hit 120KM sometime in June. Hopefully, this will be enough to get me around Kerry. Anyway, Covid is gone and the training has started - Let's Go!

David O'Donoghue
30 Apr 2022

So my training for the event has gotten off to a terrible start. After avoiding Covid for over two years, it eventually caught up with me this week. I have been in isolation all week and not sure when I will be able to get on my bike. Best guess is the 9th May. That will only leave me with 6 weeks to get ready. Glass half-full - Better to get it now than in the second half of June.

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