CJ’s Rainbow Charity Cycle will start at Malin Head today and travel through Donegal, Sligo, Roscommon and Galway, before hitting County Clare on Saturday morning.
They are looking for the people of the county to colour their route in support of the cycle, as they try to raise awareness of childhood cancer. The cycle is in memory of C.J. McCann, from Ballaghaderreen, on the Mayo/Roscommon border and will be led by C.J.’s father, Joe.
C.J. 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, 21 cyclists – one for each month of his life, 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.
“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,” C.J.’s father, Joe, said.
Along with most of the group, Joe is not a cyclist. The 21-strong team will strive to complete the 630km cycle in just four days, a huge undertaking for an amateur cycling group. Saturday’s leg will commence in Loughrea, and the first stop will be at Clarecastle GAA Handball Club, where Liam McCarthy will welcome the cyclists to the Banner County.
The cycle itself will raise money for two charities that helped the family enormously since C.J.’s diagnosis. Hand in Hand is a national childhood cancer charity, which supports families all over Ireland, helping them to cope with the impact of treatment on family life.
“We are so grateful to be nominated as one of the beneficiaries of CJ’s Rainbow Cycle,” said Caroline O’Connor, Fundraising & Communications Manager at Hand in Hand.
“This incredible initiative organised in memory of CJ is a celebration of CJ’s spirit and a commitment to making a significant impact to families in Ireland with a childhood cancer diagnosis.”
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.
“Oscars Kids are honoured to be associated with CJs Rainbow Charity Cycle, in memory of a magical little boy, who showed such strength and bravery, when faced with adversity, and has inspired this wonderful campaign,” said Yavanna Keogh, founder of Oscars Kids.
Each and every one of the cyclists 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,” said C.J.’s proud father, Joe.
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.