Roy’s epic 1,000 mile charity trip from Belfast to Carrick
AN intrepid fundraiser is driving from Belfast to Carrickfergus — but with a twist involving a detour of almost 1,000 miles.
Roy McCann is taking the “long way around” — going clockwise through Ireland and visiting places as far apart as Waterford and Donegal.
His mission is to raise money for the Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice.
Roy (59), who works as a water engineer, will be travelling and sleeping in his 110 Land Rover Defender.
He said: “I can’t wait, I am counting down the days until I can go.
“I have always wanted to do this drive around Ireland and when I turned 59 in July, it hit me that some people don’t make ittomyageandthenIgotthinking about the children who don’t make it.
“I thought why not do something worthwhile with the trip?”
The journey takes place from Caoilfhionn, now aged three, was diagnosed with neuroblastoma in October 2014. She was referred for x-rays and an ultrasound, which revealed a tumour behind her kidney.
Caoilfhionn underwent eight hours of surgery at Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children. Fortunately, the family was told she wouldn’t need chemotherapy. Karen added: “While we were in hospital with Caoilfhionn the feeling was sort of indescribable. It felt like my chest was caving in. It was desperate.
“Emotions were running high and I was crying all the time.
“I didn’t realise at the time, but I was suffering with anxiety. If I left the ward to get a drink or something I would get back to the doors and I just couldn’t breathe. I found it overwhelming standing at those doors to go back in.
“I felt like if I spoke to people about how I felt and what was September 15 to 22. Roy will be starting in Belfast, making his way down to Waterford, up to Donegal, along the northern coastal route and back to Carrickfergus — making nine stops, and covering just under 1,000 miles over seven days.
The event was originally called the Long Way Around from Belfast to Carrickfergus but was renamed Clockwise Ireland 2017 “because it is a bit easier to say,” Roy joked.
To make the journey more comfortable, the Land Rover has been converted and houses a bed, a BBQ and even a minibar.
Roy said the support from family, friends and the public has been “outstanding”.
“My wife Janice and two boys going on I was burdening them with it. That definitely added extra stress.
“The focus is on your sick child and nobody really asked how we were doing, which of course is completely understandable. But we were hurting. We were broken.
“At the time it was like my life was just upside down.”
The family was supported by a Clic Sargent social worker and Karen is now keen to raise awareness in a bid to help others.
Research by Clic Sargent found 63% of parents said they experienced depression during their child’s treatment and 37% experienced panic attacks.
Yet less than 40% accessed support for managing stress and anxiety during their child’s treatment.
Karen added: “You just never know what someone else is going through and feeling like you’re able to talk openly is a huge thing.
“My granny’s saying was ‘There is always a story behind the smile’, which I couldn’t agree with more.” Michael and Chris have been really supportive,” he added. “My wife knows that I have always wanted to do it. She told me to go and do it while I still can.”
Countless local businesses have been offering their services, from filling the tank up to providing a packed lunch for day one.
Roy added: “I am blown away by the generosity of people. If it is not donating money, it is helping out with logistics.”
He initially hoped to raise £1,000 from the tour, — but now believes it could be a lot more.