Rugby legend Rory Best gearing up for Derry launch of third epic Rory’s Miles To Mayo challenge
Irish rugby legend Rory Best will be joined by business leaders and sporting heroes in Derry this Saturday as he embarks on his third epic Rory’s Miles To Mayo challenge in aid of the Cancer Fund for Children charity.
The former Ireland and Ulster Rugby Captain will lead a team of business leaders on a powerful journey to walk nine marathons in nine days, covering over 235 miles throughout Ireland.
They will set off from Ebrington Square shortly after 9am this Saturday, September 12, with a special launch breakfast event beforehand at Ebrington Hotel sponsored by Alchemy Technology Services taking place from 7.30am.
Over the nine days, Rory and the other participants will put their physical and mental endurance to the test, walking around 50,000 steps daily across Derry, Belfast, Dublin, Kildare, Carlow, Cork, Limerick, Galway before finishing in Cong, Co. Mayo. Each has also made a commitment to raise a minimum of £50,000 or €50,000 towards vital services in aid of children and young people impacted by cancer.
In 2021, Rory completed his first Rory’s Miles to Mayo challenge, walking 180 miles from Daisy Lodge in Newcastle, Co. Down to the future site in Cong, Co. Mayo, raising over €1 million. The second Rory’s Miles 2 Mayo challenge in 2023, saw Rory walking 220 miles from Dublin’s Aviva Stadium to Cong, raising €1.5million, breaking ground on the new Daisy Lodge on arrival.
In 2025, Rory’s mantle was taken up by a team of business leaders who took on the 26 Mountains To Mayo challenge, climbing the highest peak in every county across the island of Ireland. Together they raised over £1.5/ €1.8 million in support of our services.
This year, Rory and the creator of the 26 Mountains To Mayo challenge, Roger Johnston are joining together for this final journey, which the team said promises to be bigger and more impactful than ever.
Each week, across the island of Ireland, approximately 10 children and young people (aged 0- 24) are diagnosed with cancer. Cancer Fund for Children's vision is that these children and their families, don't face this experience alone.
The breakfast launch event in Derry will bring together a wide range of stakeholders, business leaders, supporters and community representatives from across the region to mark the beginning of the final chapter in Rory Best’s Miles to Mayo fundraising journey.
Speaking ahead of his biggest challenge yet, Rory Best, said: “It’s been an honour to lead this series of physical fundraising challenges in support of the amazing work of Cancer Fund for Children and I’m excited to be walking through Derry-Londonderry during the third and final challenge, with an incredible team of business leaders and surrounded by a passionate crew of supporters.
“Though it will be a strenuous undertaking, the motivation of supporting a charity doing such vital work for families and children facing the heartbreaking realities of a cancer diagnosis will drive us towards the finish line in Cong, Co Mayo. It will be emotional and very rewarding to see how work is nearing completion on the second Daisy Lodge to help more children and families who are going through very tough times.”
Erin McFeely, Director NI, Alchemy Technology Services, said: “As a business with deep roots in Derry~Londonderry, we are delighted to help bring together stakeholders, business leaders and supporters to mark the start of such an inspiring journey. Cancer Fund for Children delivers vital support for children, young people and families impacted by cancer, and we are honoured to play a role in backing that mission.”
Phil Alexander, CEO, Cancer Fund for Children, said: “We are so grateful to the incredible team at Alchemy Technology Services for getting behind our third and final Rory’s Miles to Mayo challenge. When we were developing the route for this campaign, we knew we wanted to include Derry~Londonderry. It’s such a vibrant city and we’re privileged to currently support 22 families who live here.”
Rory’s Miles to Mayo is being supported by headline sponsor, Arachas Corporate Brokers, as well as supporting sponsor, Kingsbridge Healthcare Group.
Find out more about this charity challenge and how you can get behind Rory Best and the participants by visiting https://rorysmiles2mayo.cancerfundforchildren.com/.