Rory Best begins his walk this weekend for Cancer Fund for Children

Rugby legend Rory Best will begin his biggest fundraising challenge yet for Cancer Fund for Children this weekend. The 235-mile walk around Ireland, called Rory's Miles 2 Mayo: the Trilogy, is being undertaken by Best and 21 business leaders.

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. The challenge is the final part of a series of three physical fundraising efforts led by Best for the charity, which have raised over £2 million to date.

The walk begins this Saturday, 12 September, from Derry to Limavady. On day two, Sunday 13 September, Best and his team will walk from Bangor Marina to the Affidea (Ravenhill) Stadium, taking in Crawfordsburn, Craigantlet, Dundonald, Stormont Parliament Buildings and Ballyhackamore, before making their way through Belfast city, passing landmarks including the O2 Arena, Belfast City Hall and the Grand Opera House, as well as the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children, Kingsbridge Private Hospital and Ormeau Park.

The Rooney family from Belfast, who have been supported by Cancer Fund for Children, will walk through the grounds of Stormont alongside guest walker Jacob Stockdale, the Ireland and Ulster rugby player. Cancer Fund for Children-supported family the Fletchers will then join the group for the final kilometre into the Affidea (Ravenhill) Stadium, bringing the Northern Ireland phase of the challenge to a close.

Among the business leaders taking part are Roger Johnston, chief executive of Belfast company Axial 3D, Marie McGrady, managing director at Belfast Skin Clinic, and Karl Crockard, managing director at CASC, all from Co Down. Antrim business leaders involved include Graeme Neill, managing director at CRN Financial Services Ltd, Samuel Robinson, managing director at Regency Carpet Manufacturing, and Suzanne Wylie, chief executive of NI Chamber of Commerce. Kingsbridge Private Hospital Group medical director Martin Shields, from Antrim, is also among those taking part, with six of his Kingsbridge colleagues forming two relay teams of three.

The challenge is supported by headline sponsor Arachas Corporate Brokers, which has 16 offices in Ireland and has raised funds for Cancer Fund for Children throughout all of the Rory's Miles to Mayo challenges since 2021. Kingsbridge Private Hospital Group has been on board as a supporting sponsor since the challenge began.

The walk will finish on Sunday, 20 September, in Cong, Co Mayo, the location of Cancer Fund for Children's second Daisy Lodge therapeutic short break centre, which is currently nearing completion and due to open in 2027. The fundraising target for the challenge is around £1.2 million, which will go towards equipping the Cong centre and preparing it to open its doors next year.

Best's first Rory's Miles 2 Mayo challenge in 2021 saw him walk from Cancer Fund for Children's first Daisy Lodge in Newcastle, Co Down, to Cong, Co Mayo, where he broke ground at the site of the second Daisy Lodge. A second challenge in 2023 saw him walk from Dublin's Aviva Stadium to Cong. This time, Best will see Daisy Lodge in Cong nearing completion.

Speaking ahead of the challenge, Rory Best said: "It's been an honour to lead this series of physical fundraising challenges in support of the amazing work of Cancer Fund for Children and I'm excited to be walking through counties Down and Antrim during the third and final challenge, with an incredible team of business leaders and surrounded by a passionate crew of supporters." He added: "Though it will be a strenuous undertaking, the motivation of supporting a charity doing such vital work for families and children facing the heartbreaking realities of a cancer diagnosis will drive us towards the finish line in Cong, Co Mayo. It will be emotional and very rewarding to see how work is nearing completion on the second Daisy Lodge to help more children and families who are going through very tough times."

Phil Alexander, chief executive of Cancer Fund for Children, said: "Rory Best has created a legacy of fundraising which has completely blown us away. From taking on his own Miles to Mayo challenges, to inspiring countless other campaigns, including the 26 Mountains to Mayo challenge last year which raised £1.5m in aid of our services." He said the funds raised had allowed the charity to provide vital support to children, young people and families impacted by cancer throughout the island of Ireland, in hospital, at home and at Daisy Lodge, adding that the charity's investment in Daisy Lodge Cong demonstrated the growing need for its services as well as its commitment to supporting children and families affected by the extremely harsh realities of a cancer diagnosis on the island.

Joey Wynne, chief executive of headline sponsor Arachas Corporate Brokers, said: "Arachas is proud to once again support Rory's Miles to Mayo, having been a core partner since the beginning, and we are delighted to play our part in helping Cancer Fund for Children, a charity that has grown close to the hearts of Arachas staff." He said the walk would pass the locations of several of the company's offices in Ireland, and that supporting the communities in which it lives and works is an important part of who it is as a business, adding that he hoped colleagues, customers and the wider public in counties Down and Antrim and throughout the island would get behind the challenge.

Nicola McDermott lives in Lisburn with her husband James and their two children, Sophia, aged two, and Jayden, aged five. On 18 June 2025, at just 17 months old, Sophia was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia, and the family were connected with Cancer Fund for Children throughout her treatment. They were able to enjoy two therapeutic short breaks at the charity's purpose-built facility, Daisy Lodge in Newcastle, Co Down, which allowed them to rest and reconnect during an exhausting experience. As Sophia was at high risk of infection, the family were wary of socialising, but Cancer Fund for Children organised family events which the McDermotts could enjoy in a controlled environment with people who understood their situation. This September, the McDermott family are calling on the public to support Rory Best on his challenge so that Cancer Fund for Children can support more families like theirs.

Find out more or donate at rorysmiles2mayo.cancerfundforchildren.com