Rory Best Calls on Cork Business Leaders to Join Cancer Charity Walking Challenge

Former Ireland and Ulster Rugby captain Rory Best is calling on business leaders in Cork to lace up their walking shoes and join him for his third Rory's Miles to Mayo challenge this September, raising funds for Cancer Fund for Children.

From 12th to 20th September, Rory Best will captain a team of business leaders on a powerful journey, walking nine marathons in nine days, covering over 235 miles throughout Ireland. The route will pass through Derry/Londonderry, Belfast, Dublin, Kildare, Carlow, Cork, Limerick and Galway before finishing in Cong, Co. Mayo, with each participant walking around 50,000 steps daily.

The challenge is the third chapter in a trilogy of fundraising walks created by Best for Cancer Fund for Children, an all-island charity that provides emotional, social and therapeutic support to children, young people and families impacted by cancer.

Speaking at a launch event in Dublin on Thursday (5 March), Best outlined what drives him to keep going.

Rory Best:

"Every Rory's Miles to Mayo challenge has been incredibly special and humbling, inspired by Cancer Fund for Children's ambition to build a second therapeutic short break centre called Daisy Lodge on the shores of Lough Corrib in Cong, Co. Mayo. Across the last five years, I have seen this vision come to life, and this year's challenge carries even more weight as Daisy Lodge is currently being built and is set to open in spring 2027. I've been privileged to turn the sod on this site and to see it go from an empty space full of potential to a working construction site, and finally to a safe space for families has been so amazing."

Rory Best:

"I can't wait to finish my walk there once again, this time with a team of inspirational business leaders by my side. I'm delighted to also have Arachas Corporate Brokers on board as the headline sponsor and Kingsbridge Healthcare Group as a sponsor, too. Their support across my fundraising journey has been incredible."

The challenge has Cork connections through headline sponsor Arachas, which has offices in Little Island. Representatives from the firm will be taking on the walk alongside Best in September.

Joey Wynne, CEO at Arachas:

"We are delighted to once again support Rory's Miles to Mayo this year and we have been an integral partner since the beginning of the project. We believe in supporting communities all around Ireland and our staff, all around the country, have taken this project to their hearts by organising events, walking, climbing, and cycling to raise money and to support Rory and the Cancer Fund for Children team."

Joey Wynne:

"This year will be no different, as the walk passes several of our offices and we now look forward to the challenge again this year as we approach the realisation of the dream and the opening of the Daisy Lodge facility in Cong, Co. Mayo."

The Miles to Mayo series has been a remarkable fundraising success. In 2021, Best completed the first challenge, walking 180 miles from Cancer Fund for Children's first Daisy Lodge in Newcastle, Co. Down to the site of their second centre in Cong, raising over €1 million. The second challenge in 2023 saw him walk 220 miles from Dublin's Aviva Stadium to Cong, raising €1.5 million and breaking ground on the new Daisy Lodge on arrival. In 2025, a team of business leaders took on the 26 Mountains to Mayo challenge, climbing the highest peak in every county across the island of Ireland, raising over €1.8 million.

This year, both campaigns will come together for Rory's Miles to Mayo – The Trilogy.

Among those already signed up for September is Tom Keogh, founder of Keogh's Farm.

Tom Keogh:

"I took part in the 26 Mountains to Mayo challenge last year and was completely blown away by the experience. It was incredible to come together with other business leaders, to put our physical and mental endurance to the test and to raise vital funds for families across the island of Ireland who are navigating the unimaginable hardship of a childhood cancer diagnosis. I'm proud and excited to be stepping away from the farm once again this year, this time with Rory Best on his Miles to Mayo – The Trilogy challenge."

Every week, up to 10 children and young people aged 0-24 are diagnosed with cancer across the island of Ireland. Currently, demand for short breaks at Daisy Lodge far exceeds capacity, with only one in seven families able to be accommodated.

Business leaders in Cork who are interested in joining the challenge can sign up here. The public can find out more about how to support the walk by visiting rorysmiles2mayo.cancerfundforchildren.com.