The family behind a charity cycle in memory of a much-loved Roscommon boy is calling on Donegal people to get out and show their support this week.
CJ’s Rainbow Charity Cycle will start at Malin Head on Thursday, August 22nd and visit Muff, Drumkeen, Ballybofey, Donegal Town and Bundoran on day one.
A team of 21 volunteers are hitting the road in memory of C.J. McCann from Ballaghaderreen, who was just 21 months old when he lost his battle with a rare and aggressive brain cancer, ATRT (Atypical Teratoid Rhabdoid Tumour), in October last year.
Now, his father, Joe (pictured), and 20 other enthusiastic volunteers will take on a gruelling Malin Head to Mizen Head cycle to raise money for two of the charities, Hand-in-Hand and Oscars Kids, who both supported the McCann family during their childhood cancer journey.
So this Thursday, get your flags, balloons and bunting out to support the cycle as they pass through your town.
CJs Rainbow Charity Cycle, which gets underway this Thursday from Malin Head
The 21-strong team will strive to complete the 630km cycle in just four days, a huge undertaking for an amateur cycling group, beginning at the most northerly point on Thursday, August 22nd. From Malin, the group will travel to Muff, where they will have a short break, before taking off for Drumkeen, which will provide their lunchtime location. Then it’s off towards Ballybofey, with a scheduled stop at Ryan McHugh’s McBrew, before concluding the 155km of Day 1 in Bundoran. On Friday, August 23rd, the group depart early towards Sligo, before meandering down the country, with the hope of reaching Mizen Head on Sunday afternoon, August 25th.
CJ’s Rainbow Charity Cycle is all about raising funds for two amazing charities that have helped the family enormously over the past 18 months, while also remembering the bravery and strength of C.J. The family also hope to shine a light on the challenges of childhood cancer for families in Ireland.
“I decided during our time on St. John’s (the National Paediatric Oncology Ward), that I would fundraise for some the charities that helped and supported us during one of the toughest times of our lives,” Joe said.
“I wanted to do something that was a real challenge, so I chose the Malin to Mizen route, as opposed to Mizen to Malin, as it’s against the prevailing winds and, the way I saw it, C.J. didn’t get to decide on the mammoth challenge that was put before him.”
Hand in Hand is a national childhood cancer charity, based in Loughrea, which supports families all over Ireland, helping them to cope with the impact of treatment on family life. For the McCann family, this has included play therapy for C.J.’s sisters, Róisín (8) and Clódagh (6), which is immensely beneficial to them in coping with the loss of their little brother, and was also a vital outlet for them during C.J.’s treatment.
The second charity to benefit from the fundraising cycle is Oscar’s Kids, who support families coping with a child’s terminal cancer diagnosis; the charity aim to create moments of magic during the toughest of times.
Their incredible support enabled the McCann Family to plan C.J.’s Magical Christmas last September, the only Christmas spent with C.J. at home. A public appeal saw 40,000 Christmas cards delivered to the family’s door.
C.J.’s sisters, Roisin and Clodagh at the cycle launch.
After months of heavy training, the cyclists, who hail from all corners of the country, will bid to take on this immense challenge. Each and every of them will dedicate this cycle to C.J. and the children who are currently battling cancer, or those who have left this world too soon.
“Those children – they are the real heroes; what they endure, how they get through it, how they keep smiling; it’s just incredible.”
The McCann Family now aim to help to support these heroes, and their families, through the proceeds raised by CJ’s Rainbow Charity Cycle. An iDonate page has been set up at www.idonate.ie/event/cjsrainbow, and further details on the cycle are available www.instagram.ie/cjsrainbow.
