An annual charity cycle from Malin Head to Mizen Head is targeting a total of €1 million raised for cystic fibrosis this year.
The Malin2Mizen Cycle4CF has taken place annually since 2016, and for 2024 its organisers have set a target of €100,000 – a number that would bring them over the €1 million total since they began the cycle.
A total of 44 volunteers are taking place in this year’s event, which sets off from Malin Head on Thursday the 12th of September, with the goal of arriving at Mizen Head on Sunday the 15th.
The first cycle was set up in memory of Triona Priestley, who passed away ten years ago from cystic fibrosis when she was just 15 years old.
Triona’s mother, Bernie Priestley, is now the Chairperson of Cystic Fibrosis Ireland (CFI), and has been a driving force behind the Malin to Mizen charity cycle.
Bernie says that “in the 10 years since Triona passed, the CF landscape in Ireland has changed dramatically and so much progress has been made. Triona was always a voice for people with CF in Ireland and I think she would be so proud and amazed of where we are today. To carry on her legacy in this way, surrounded by others including her friends, all working for the same goal, is an emotional, and powerful thing.”
Sarah Tecklenborg, Interim CEO CFI says, “we are so grateful that our members and the public have dedicated almost ten years to this event – the support it provides is transformative. CF has always been an exceptionally challenging condition and since the roll out of the highly effective modulator therapies, that hasn’t changed. But what has changed is the nature of these challenges which reflects how living with CF is changing at pace. As an organisation we must ensure that our services evolve and adapt to continue to meet the needs of people living with CF in Ireland. This is only made possible by the incredible support of events like our Malin to Mizen cycle.”
Marc McCarron, from Letterkenny, lives with Cystic Fibrosis and comments, “as a person with CF I have availed of the CFI Exercise Grant and the PPE Grant during Covid. These supports are only possible by the funds and awareness raised by the Malin 2 Mizen cycle and other events like it. That’s why it is so important, not only to CFI, but to me, my family and the rest of the CF Community in Donegal and I would urge everyone to get behind CFI and help keep providing essential supports to its members.”
You can register to get involved with the cycle, and donate to Cystic Fibrosis Ireland, at https://www.cfireland.ie/
