Rory Best – former rugby union player who was the captain of the Ireland national team from 2016 to 2019. He played hooker for Ulster. He is currently walking from Carlow to Kilkenny on his biggest challenge yet to support children with cancer. Rory’s Miles 2 Mayo: the Trilogy ─ the 378km walking challenge around the island of Ireland currently being undertaken by rugby legend Rory Best and 21 business leaders for Cancer Fund for Children ─ will pass through Carlow and Kilkenny today. Cancer Fund for Children is an all-island charity that provides emotional, social and therapeutic support to children, young people and families impacted by cancer, including in Carlow and Kilkenny. Rory’s Miles 2 Mayo ─ the Trilogy is the final part of a series of three physical fundraising challenges led by Rory Best for Cancer Fund for Children, which have raised over €2.5 million to date. Today Rory and his team are walking 40km from Carlow Castle to Kilkenny Castle, passing through Williamstown, Cloghristick, Powerstown, Leighlinbridge and Moneybeg in Co Carlow, as well as Paulstown, Lackabeg, Kilmacahill, Shraugh, Ballyquirk and Clara in Co. Kilkenny. The Rory’s Miles 2 Mayo ─ the Trilogy challenge will finish on Sunday, 20th September in Cong, Co Mayo. Cong is the location of Cancer Fund for Children’s second Daisy Lodge therapeutic short break centre for children and families impacted by a cancer diagnosis, currently nearing completion and due to open in 2027. The fundraising target for Rory’s Miles 2 Mayo ─ the Trilogy is around €1.5 million, which will go towards equipping Daisy Lodge in Cong, and help get it ready for opening its doors next year to enable Cancer Fund for Children to support more children and families.
