Maam to Mongolia for Cystic Fibrosis

Six friends to go from Maam to Mongolia for Cystic Fibrosis


Ciara Galvin

SIX friends from Cong, Corr na Móna, Cloughbrack, Maam and Donegal are about to embark on a 10,000 mile journey across the roughest of terrain to reach Mongolia.
And what are they making this mammoth journey in? A Range Rover, equipped with a state of the art sat nav? No, two, one litre Nissan Micras. And why? To raise as much money as they possibly can for the Cystic Fibrosis Galway Hospital Project by completing the 2014 Mongol Rally
The group, made up of local men Patrick Curran, David O’Sullivan, John Kearney, Adrian O’Malley, Terry Keenan and Donegal man George O’Donnell, call themselves ‘Team 65 Roses’, the phrase used to help children with cystic fibrosis, pronounce their condition. They chose to raise money for the CF Galway Hospital Project as all of the men have had a friend or relative affected by the condition.
Speaking to The Mayo News, while nervously waiting outside an NCT test centre for one of the Micras to pass, the mastermind of the trip, Patrick, explained how it all came about.
“I’ve been thinking about it since June 2011 and every year I used to say it to the lads and last August I decided to just book it and get them on board,” explained the mechanic.
Three of the men have already covered a great distance to embark on the trip of a life-time. David, George and John flew home from Australia recently and David and John will be returning to Australia after they cross the finish line in Mongolia’s capital of Ulaanbaatar next month.

Route
They kick off their journey from Eyre Square, Galway on July 18. From there they make the trip across to London for the official start of the rally which will see up to 240 cars, all similar in one litre engine power – to make things interesting, start their trek on July 20. Then on to Prague, Istanbul, Azerbaijan and many other countries and capitals, before crossing from Russia into Mongolia.
Patrick outlines that the rally is not a race and that it is not about winning but ‘just about getting there’.
The men are covering all their travelling, fuel and supplies costs with their own money and with the help of kind donations from businesses across the country, with Patrick pointing out that ‘every cent’ donated goes straight to the CF Galway Hospital Project fund.
So far, Team 65 Roses have raised approximately €11,000 and are hoping to reach the €20,000 mark. A fundraising night will be held this Saturday, July 12 in Burke’s of Clonbur.
For more information visit facebook.com/cysticfibrosismongolrally or to donate go to idonate.ie/cfmongolrally.