On-the-spot cycle for Cancer Society

TWO young West Kerry cyclists have undertaken a marathon endurance cycle to raise funds for the Irish Cancer Society who have been left short of regular funding due to the cancellation of their national Daffodil Day collection.

Mikey and Tom Moriarty started their cycle on Thursday when they completed the first of three 12-hour shifts in the saddle, mirroring the 12-hour shifts worked by healthcare staff. They set up an online donations page with a target of €5,000 and by Friday evening they had already raised €5,500. On Saturday Tom called a halt to the cycle after three hours but Mikey went on to finish the 12 hours on a solo run. The extreme effort paid off and by Tuesday the pair had raised over €7,500 with donations still being accepted until Friday.

The Irish Cancer Society’s Community Fundraiser for Munster, Nicola Mac Mahon, said: “This will make all the difference, it was a brilliant idea to come up with... We are so appreciative of Mikey and Tom’s support because the cancellation of Daffodil Day means that we are substantially down on funds this year.”

She added that, amid the coronavirus emergency, the Cancer Society has experienced an increase in demand for night nursing and has extended its Nurseline hours and provided a support line and counselling services.

Both Tom and Mikey have a long association with cycling and both are members of Kanturk Cycling Club. Donations for their cycle can be made until Friday at https://gf.me/u/xxrii7.