Donegal men begin cycle from Mayo island to Athens

Two lifelong friends from Donegal have started a 5,000 kilometre cycle from Mayo to Greece to fundraise for Médecins sans Frontières in solidarity with the Palestinian people.

Today FM videographer Cian Flanagan and physics graduate Matthew Geever from Co Donegal set off on their bikes on Tuesday for the start of their cycle Achill to Athens, the capital of Greece.

Friends and family travelled with the two men to Achill to see them off at the start of the cycle which began at the iconic Michael Davitt Bridge at Achill Sound.

The friends stated that they have been profoundly affected by the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the horrors being inflicted on Palestinian civilians and wanted to do something to help.

“We are undertaking this challenge in solidarity with the Palestinian people, who are enduring an ongoing genocide at the hands of the Israeli state. We believe MSF [Médecins sans Frontières] is uniquely placed to deliver direct and immediate medical aid to Gaza, where the situation has become unimaginably dire,” they stated.

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“We’ll be cycling thousands of kilometres across Europe to raise funds and awareness for Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), an organisation providing critical medical care in some of the world’s most devastated crisis zones.

“Since 7 October 2023, more than 50,000 have been killed and over 113,000 injured, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health.

“Every hospital in the Gaza Strip has been bombed or forced out of service, and as of March 2, a total aid blockade has left over two million people without access to food, clean water, electricity, or basic medical supplies.”

The friends are also raising money for MSF’s important work in other countries and have set up a fundraising page on the idonate website.

“While Gaza is central to our concern, MSF is also doing life-saving work in other crisis zones, including the ongoing civil war in Sudan. The funds raised through this ride will support their operations across all regions where people are living under siege, displacement and extreme violence.

“We would be deeply grateful for any donation – big or small. Your support makes a real difference. Please take a moment to visit msf.org to learn more about the crises MSF is responding to.”

Physics graduate Matthew said they were very grateful for the support they have already received and thanked people who helped raise €6,000 as part of a head shave fundraiser before setting off.

The two men will be using a route planning app that will keep us away from busy roads.

“We’re both excited for the trip and looking forward to getting started. From Achill we are cycling to Ballyhaunis, Mullingar, then Dublin. It’s 300 kilometres through Ireland and it should take us about three days. We are getting a ferry from Dublin port to Cherbourg.

“There will be a decent amount of elevation in France and Italy, and it will be a challenge going through the Alps.”

Matthew and Cian’s fundraising journey can be followed on Cian’s Instagram account: @cianflanagan and donatiopns can be made at: https://www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/CianFlanaganandMatthewGeever.