A young Cork man riding a bike from Ireland to Mount Everest is doing it to \u201cgive back\u201d to the Cork community that has supported him in the past.<\/p>\n
Daragh Cronin is hoping his mammoth journey will raise \u20ac30,000 for children\u2019s wards at Cork University Hospital (CUH).<\/p>\n
Mr Cronin said that he wanted the children of Munster to be able to receive \u201cbest-in-class paediatric care\u201d.<\/p>\n
He also wanted to inspire children to \u201cchase their dreams\u201d.<\/p>\n
BLACKROCK<\/p>\n
Mr Cronin\u2019s journey will begin at Blackrock hurling club on February 14 and take him on a ferry from Rosslare to France, then over Europe and the Middle East, before heading to Everest base camp.<\/p>\n
The 23-year-old previously cycled the length of Africa by riding almost 13,500km between Morocco and South Africa, \u201cwith zero prior cycling or camping experience\u201d.<\/p>\n
That journey had inspired him to raise money for the hospital, through the CUH Charity.<\/p>\n
He had been told his Africa trip would be \u201cimpossible\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had guns pointed in my face. But 99% of the time, there was genuine hospitality and huge amounts of kindness,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\n \u201cI know these things are coming my way again, but I trust my instinct. I was able to talk my way out of some hairy situations in Africa.\u201d\u00a0\n <\/p>\n
Now, with his trip to Everest, he said: \u201cThis time, I want to do it for a cause.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had crazy support when I went to Africa; half of Cork had my back, so I want to do something to give back this time.\u201d He will cross the tip of Oman, and cycle through Pakistan, India, and Nepal, before he reaches Mount Everest.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe record I\u2019m trying to set is to hike the bike from a place called Lukla (in Koshi Province) to Everest base camp, and no Irish person has done that,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI will cycle as far as I can through Nepal, onto Lukla, and then put the bike over my neck and get to base camp.\u201d<\/p>\n