Inishowen man Denis Doherty may have enough miles on the clock to put most men of a similar age off the idea of cycling the length of the country.
But at the age of 68 the Gleneely man wanted to give something back after a brush with cancer.
Denis is currently in the middle of a five day cycle from Mizen to Malin which finishes on Friday.
He was joined by both his son Michael and son-in-law Shane to begin his journey in aid of Donegal Cancer Support Services.
Denis’ family say that following an encounter with cancer himself a few years back has decided he is now fit enough to give something back as a tribute to what he believes was an outstanding service that he recieved during his treatment.
He especially wants to raise cash to help fund the bus service that brings cancer patients from Letterkenny General Hospital to both Dublin and Galway hospitals who are recieving treatment from Monday to Friday and who then return home to their families for the weekends.
Denis says this service is vital both in terms of both the practicalities of accessible transport from Donegal but also the peer support gained through this service amongst cancer patients themselves, allowing a certain amount of comradeship during what is essentially a very harrowing, exausting and isolating period of time in their lives.
Denis’ daughter Breda, who has also suffered from cancer in the past, has been instrumental in the gaining of sponsorship to-date for my fathers cycle.
To-date they have raised over €12,000 and the group is so grateful for the support they have been shown in Donegal.
“Basically my father has put in the work to training over the past 12 months whilst Breda had been knocking on doors.
“We would really appreciate it if people to show their support either by sponsorship or even by just giving them a wave and a hoot to show your appreciation for a man who is testimony to how how we can turn negatives into positives and believes in looking forward rather than looking back,” said Denis’ daughter Rosaleen.
Tags: