Kildare Cycling Club take on mammoth challenge to support Rathangan dad with major spinal injury

Kildare Cycling Club members take on mammoth Mizen to Malin Challenge to support Rathangan dad who suffered a spinal injury Sign up to our Ireland Live newsletter Did you know you can manage your profile, and explore all of the available newsletters from Ireland Live within your account. Over a dozen members of the Kildare Cycling Club are taking on the mammoth Mizen to Malin Challenge this week on a trip that they say will cover 'miles that will matter more than most'. They are cycling 572km in four days, starting at Ireland's most southerly point – Mizen Head in West Cork – to its most northerly point in Malin, Co Donegal. Their grueling ride is raising funds to support a good friend – Derrick Cunningham from Clonbrin, Rathangan – who is currently on a tough journey of his own. The 51 year-old landscaper and father of two suffered a catastrophic spinal injury last December from a simple fall. It left him paralysed from the neck down and he has spent the last six months in the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dublin where his hard work and courage is showing encouraging progress. 'Derrick had a huge milestone moment last week when he got home for two nights,' his wife Ethna revealed. 'That was his first visit home and it was brilliant for the family to get to spend quality time with him. We are hopeful that he will have another home visit soon and then get a discharge date within the next few weeks.' Derrick is determined to regain as much function and independence as possible, but will need ongoing rehabilitation, specialist equipment and adaptation of the family home, as well as an accessible vehicle. Read More Kildare Cycling club, which meets beside the Squire Gannon statue in Kildare town every Sunday, has a significant membership from Rathangan and, through a Gofundme campaign, has already raised almost €40,000 to support him. The group face a long drive to West Cork early this Thursday, September 10, so they can only cover 90km on the first leg but, after over nighting in Ballyvourney, face two particularly tough days. Friday is the longest leg, a full 180km to get to Birr, Co Offaly. Day three will be almost as long, another 160km to reach Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh before their epic trip culminates in a tough final 142km. Derrick's family and friends plan to meet them along the way and will be there to welcome them across the finish line at Malin's famous rocky promontory on Sunday, September 13. The group will be accompanied each day by three support vehicles that will provide mechanical and medical support. 'We are so delighted and deeply appreciative that Kildare Cycling Club has chosen to support Derrick in this way and for all the effort and hard work they are putting into this,' Ethna Cunningham said. *You can follow Kildare Cycling Club's 'Mizen2Malin' progress daily (September 10-13) on their Facebook Page and all donations will be gratefully received on the Go Fund Me page by clicking here