Cycle Across America

hikeRbike

"You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream". --C.S. Lewis

My name is Eugene O'Leary. I am a 65 year old cyclist! ("The Pedaling Pensioner!") My daughter, Helen was a patient of Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin until she was eighteen years old. She died one year after leaving the care of the hospital (February 2002), and having her care transferred to an adult hospital.

In order to show some appreciation for the wonderful work done by the hospital in enabling my wife and I, together with her brothers and sisters to enjoy the gift of having an "angel" in our family for nineteen years, I started to do fundraising cycles for Our Lady's Children's Hospital, five years ago.

I have raised over €57,000 for the Children’s Medical & Research foundation which is the fundraising arm for both the Foundation and the hospital, over the last five summers, by doing a series of 8 hour static cycles (on a training frame) on Bank Holiday weekends, at the entrance to the East Pier, Howth, Co. Dublin, in recognition of the wonderful care that our daughter was given, while a patient of Our Lady's Children's Hospital.

My ten-year old grandson (Dylan) is also a patient of the hospital and has been receiving chemotherapy treatment for non-malignant but very aggressive bone tumours. He has received and is still receiving excellent care and was recently given the "all clear".

I have taken part in the hospitals overseas cycle challenges in Durban, South Africa; Lake Balaton, Hungary; Flagstaff, Arizona and last year in Niagara, Ontario. Each of these challenges entailed cycling a distance of 100 kilometres (62 miles) a day for five days. I recently completed this years (2008) cycle challenge in Monterey, California from 5th. to 15th. September.

On August 4th 2008 (Bank Holiday Monday), I completed a 150 mile fundraising cycle from Galway Docks to Howth, Co. Dublin i.e. from the Atlantic Ocean to the Irish Sea in 12 hours..

From Sunday June 21st to Monday August 10th. 2009 (50 days), I hope to cycle across America and raise €250,000 in sponsorship for the Intensive Care Unit of Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital. In doing so, I hope to be become the first Irish "Old Age Pensioner" to travel across America on a bicycle.

Please visit http://www.bebo.com/PedalingPensioner and http://the-pedaling-pensioner.org/america.html
You can donate directly to my fundraising account at Our Lady's Children's Hospital by going to http://the-pedaling-pensioner.org and clicking on one of the donation buttons at the bottom of the page.

cmyk

First off Eugene, many congratulations on all the money you've raised so far, it's an inspiring story and such a worthy cause. Secondly condolences on the death of your daughter and I pray your Grandson makes a full recovery.

Friends of mine whose baby was born with a tumour in his stomach, have also been touched by the care there, and he is looking at a full recovery with a little luck.

I will send a bank draft to the address over the next day or two.

hikeRbike

Hi,
You can donate by either going to http://the-pedaling-pensioner.org and clicking on one of the donate buttons at the bottom of the page or if you would like to sponsor a mile of my cycle across America go to http://the-pedaling-pensioner.org/america.html

The links from both pages will take you to my donor page on Our Lady's Children's Hospital site. Instructions are also on this page re. alternative ways of donating, if you do not wish to use your credit card on-line.

If you sponsor a mile of the cycle across America, please let me know which date and mile you have sponsored me for, so that I can enter your name in the relevant box. My e-mail address is: eugene.cycleogical@gmail.com

Regards,
Eugene.

emty

Hey Eugene, I came across you a few times at Howth ,was always impressed by your manner.Best of luck with this, you will have my support.

hikeRbike

Hi,
Please visit my website at http://the-pedaling-pensioner.org
Have a look at page 6 of the current issue of the "Swords Gazette" or the "Malahide Gazette".
Regards,
Eugene.

Chris Peak

cmyk wrote: »

First off Eugene, many congratulations on all the money you've raised so far, it's an inspiring story and such a worthy cause. Secondly condolences on the death of your daughter and I pray your Grandson makes a full recovery.


I will send a bank draft to the address over the next day or two.

+1 totally.

The only cyclist I saw out today was this guy. It was just before the Orwell roundabout. And, then about 10 minutes later on the N11 - Blessington Road, heading into a sleety headwind.