Dub great Hickey inspires 888km charity fundraiser

THE late Anton O’Toole was as unequivocal as a supreme court judge in issuing a verdict on his fellow 1970s Dublin titan David Hickey: “The greatest living Irishman of all.”

O’Toole’s thesis was constructed less on Hickey’s three All-Ireland medals, and more on his lifesaving work as an eminent transplant surgeon, the forcefield of his personality and the selflessness that is his famed calling card.

Michael O’Driscoll and Gavin Downes from St. Vincent’s GAA club, cite Hickey among their inspirations on the eve of embarking on a gruelling and hugely ambitious weekend endurance challenge in aid of organ donation.

O’Driscoll (23) and Downes (25) will cycle and run a mammoth 888km (444km each, consisting of 400km on the bike and 44km on foot) in four arduous six-hour blocks across tomorrow and Saturday. Their goals are to create awareness of the urgent need for organ donors and raise funds for the Irish Kidney Association.

O’Driscoll, a nephew of Hickey’s Dublin team-mate Gay O’Driscoll, had his ambition underscored when he and Downes met the inspirational surgeon last week.

Hickey continues to do his vital work despite his own health battles with three major cancer operations in the last 12 years.

“The last one has left me how I am. I spent three months in hospital. I lost the floor of my mouth and I haven’t been able to eat since,” says Hickey.

O’Driscoll, a strength, conditioning and fitness coach at Gravity Fitness, says: “David is a remarkable man. It was humbling to meet him for an informal chat. And it added to our determination to make this a success.”

O’Driscoll and Downes, a teacher at Holy Trinity SMS in Donaghmede, will begin their 38-hour challenge at 6.0am tomorrow morning, hopefully concluding around 7.30pm on Saturday. Search for ‘88km IKA’ to find their Gofundme page online