| Peddling pensioner powers across the US |
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| Thursday, 02 October 2008 | |
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A NORTHSIDE pensioner has completed a gruelling 500 kilometre cycling challenge across part of the United States in aid of Our Lady’s Hospital, Crumlin. The 65-year-old long distance cyclist from Howth, Eugene O’Leary, travelled over 526 kilometres in 11 days from September 3 until September 13 to raise funds for the Children’s hospital, where his 10-year-old grandson Dylan O’Leary is currently a patient. Nicknamed the peddling pensioner, Eugene’s original motivation was his daughter, Helen, who was a patient at the children’s hospital until she was 18-years-old. Tragically, in February 2002 she passed away, one year after leaving the care of the hospital. Eugene has already raised over e57,000 for Our Lady’s over the last few years by taking part in overseas cycle challenges in Durban, South Africa; Lake Balaton, Hungary; Flagstaff, Arizona and last year in Niagara, Ontario. Last month he flew to San Francisco with 58 cycling buddies to take part in this year’s Monterey Cycle Challenge 2008. Eugene explained how on completing his journey he experienced feelings of both sadness and joy for all those children and their families who benefit from his fundraising efforts. “Through my own personal experience, I know what it is like to lose a child who has got the best care in the world at Our Lady's Children's Hospital Crumlin,” he explained. “My child and my family benefited on many occasions from the funds that were raised by voluntary cyclists, walkers, triathletes, marathon runners and event organisers. “Nobody’s child dies in vain and I am glad that my daughter's death has meant that I am now taking part in fundraising for the hospital and doing some good in her memory. “Whenever I have doubts about my ability to do something good; I can hear the words of encouragement that she always gave me, like a voice in my head. “Those words are; 'go for it, Da!' so I do ‘go for it' and it always works out.” Eugene now hopes to raise up to e250,000 for the hospital’s intensive care unit by cycling the entire way across the United States, a distance of almost 6,000 kilometres. Upon completing his journey he will be the first pensioner to ever travel across North America on a bicycle. He is currently looking for a corporate sponsor to help meet the e10,000 cost of his trip across America next year. He is also looking for smaller sponsors for each individual day of the trip on his website – www.the-pedaling-pensioner.org. Eugene can be contacted directly on 0860571612 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it |
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I have no sympathy for him. If he wants to own a dog, ...
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North Dublin Publications, 80-83 Omni Park, Santry, Dublin 9. Phone 8621611 | Fax 8621625/6
Developed by Kevin Flynn