Taking part in French race in honour of Alex
A young man who lost his best friend in a kayaking accident in Ecuador last January has decided to take part in the hardest amateur cycling race in the world in his friend’s memory.
Davoren Fallon (19) grew up in Calry along with Alex McGourty who tragically lost his life in a kayaking accident earlier this year.
Davoren will now take part in the Haute Route, a 7-day trek of 800km across the Pyrenees in France which takes place in August.
He is raising as much money as possible for the Kevin Bell Repatriation Fund, undertaking by them.
“I am fundraising for the Trust to help them pay for repatriation like Alex’s.”
Both Alex and Davoren were big into sport and Alex was travelling the world pursuing his dream of being a kayaking instructor before his tragic death.
Davoren said he decided to sign up for the cycle as he always wanted to do something in Alex’s memory while also raising money for the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust.
They had been close friends since they were kids and had been in school together in Summerhill College.
Davoren said: “I knew Alex since we were both 4 years old. We grew up together in Calry and then went to Summerhill together as well.
“He left then and went to America, he was always travelling, he loved it.
“We had plans to go kayaking together in Nepal too,” he poignantly added.
Davoren said Alex had such a passion for kayaking and life in general and left behind his devastated family and friends.
He said Alex had fitted a lot into his young years and was hugely popular among his friends.
“He was over for Christmas and we did the Christmas Day swim in Rosses Point together.
“It was Alex who got me into kayaking too and I’m going to keep it on, I’m with the canoeing club in DCU where I’ve just finished my first year in Business,” the 19-year-old said.
He praised the work that the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust carries out to families who have lost loved ones overseas.
“They really are brilliant. They don’t get enough recognition and enough credit.
“It doesn’t affect people unless this happens like what happened me. I am hoping to raise as much as I can.
“There is a GoFundMe page set up and already €1,600 has been raised on that
I knew Alex since we were both 4 years old. We grew up together in Calry and then went to school in Summerhill.
(Haute Route for Alex).
“A lot of people have been sharing it on Facebook too and hopefully I will raise a lot,” Davoren added.
Back to the race and he’s really signed up for a tough race through the Pyrenees in France this August.
Davoren said he has been sticking to a gruelling training schedule six days a week.
“I cover around 400km a week all around Sligo, Donegal and Leitrim.
“The race organisers give you a training plan that is specialised for 12 weeks so you stick to that.
“I am following it at the start it was hard enough and I’ve 8kg lost as I have to follow a strict diet plan but the less weight you’re carrying the better for going up the mountains.”
And these are not minuscule climbs at all he explains.
“The hardest mountain in Sligo is Truskmore it is about 4km but the ones on this race are upwards of 20k climb.”
The race travels through some majestic countryside he added. “The race goes over many mythical climbs such as the Col du Tourmalet which has been used many times in the Tour de France.”
Davoren said he doesn’t know of anyone else taking part in the race but he expects there may be a few from Ireland.
“Anyone can do it. There will be around 400 people of all abilities taking part.
“We will be cycling 800k in 7 days with a 20k elevation so that is like going up Everest two and a half times!”.
Davoren is clearly big into sports taking on such a race and he played Gaelic for both Sligo minors and his club Calry/St Joseph’s when he was younger.
“I played football with Sligo minors, Calry and Summerhill as well before I got injured 2 years ago.
“I did the cruciate in both my knees and that kind of put a stop to that.
“It isn’t affecting me now with the cycling or that, at the time I was out for 9 months but I had surgery and did the rehab and all that so it is back to normal now.”
He said aside from Gaelic and cycling he also does a bit of rock climbing in college too.
“The cycling part comes from my dad he would have done a lot, there was always bikes in the house!
“I’ve two sisters and one of them is into running and the youngest is into dancing.
“I did one race when I was a bit younger, the Traders Cup which was in Carraroe.
“I am really looking forward to doing the Haute Route now.
“Especially when you’ve been training for so long.
“I cycle in college too, I use it as transport.”
He said his family and friends have been really supportive too.
“I think mum probably thinks it is a bit crazy and she is a bit worried but they think it’s such a good story and the reason I’m doing it for a cause.
“Friends have been helping out too which is great.
His bike is a Bandon Gepida and Chain Driven Cycles and Gary’s Cycles are helping out with sponsorship and he is hoping more sponsors might come on board too.
“The race starts on August 18th. The temperatures could be hot but then we will be upwards of 2,000m so it could be very cold you don’t really know with the Pyrenees mountains it could be lovely and warm.
“The summer training has been class I suppose with the recent heatwave it helped in case it is really warm over there.
“It is so nice to go out when it’s sunny,” he added.
Davoren has been keeping an eye on the Tour de France and was also at the National Championships which were held in Sligo recently.
“It was really nice to see them in Sligo too.”
Now Davoren’s focus is primarily on training for the race next month.
“I put in about 10 hours over the weekend including a 7 hour ride on Saturdays with a lot of climbs.
“It is taking a lot of time and commitment but it will be worth it.
“I’ve been increasing the training every week since the start.
“I have got used to it now. It hit me like a train at the start but the longer I spend on the bike the more I’m used to it and it’s enjoyable.
“I can see from tests that I’ve improved massively over the weeks.”
And once the race begins in August, Davoren’s best friend will be close in his thoughts.
“Alex’s big passion was kayaking and cycling now is mine.
“People are asking if I will do more races in the future, I would like to keep going and see how it goes.
“My friends have been great helping out and it’s something nice to remember Alex, we don’t want him forgotten about.
“It is nice for the family, it is hard for everyone but a nice thing to remember Alex,” Davoren added.
Davoren’s girlfriend will join him for a much deserved break after the race on August 24th.
“We’re going on holidays for 6 days and a rest!,” he added.
If you would like to donate to the GoFundMe page in memory of Alex you can do so by following Haute Route for Alex. All money raised is going to the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust.