Two Belfast brothers are weeks away from completing a 3,800 mile cycle across the United States to fund multiple sclerosis research.
Michael O’Hare (58), who now lives in New York, set out on the punishing journey across mountains, plains and 15 states from the west coast at Portland, Oregon on August 20.
Averaging around 88 miles a day, he aims to reach the east coast finish of Portland, Maine, on October 6.
Joining him in the central state of Minnesota this week, his brother Eamonn is also taking on the remaining 1,500 miles to the finish.
The challenge is all for their brother Malachy (61) who has lived with multiple sclerosis (MS) for the last 40 years, with around $120,000 (£90,000) raised to directly fund research.
Malachy O’Hare (seated) who has lived with MS for 40 years, pictured with his brothers Michael (left) and Eamonn (right).
Speaking to The Irish News, Eamonn (62) said Michael’s experience on the road had been “horrific” so far.
“A real s**t show. Only two days rest in last three weeks and lots of bad weather, particularly headwinds,” he said.
Eamonn, who runs a business in London and Spain, admits he has not had much time for training, but hopes with that years of endurance cycling experience will help him to “punch through”.
Describing the struggle of his brother Mal’s life with MS, he said that 40 years ago he had just won the All Ireland uni freshers GAA championships with Queen’s University when he started to notice tingling in his legs.
“That was the start. Now he is bed ridden and has not walked for many years.”
Michael, who has recently retired as head of HR with cosmetics firm Estée Lauder, adds: “People like to dramatise this cycle challenge, but if you suffer with MS as long as my brother has.
“In that time he’s built and sold a business, raised two incredible kids. It’s hard to watch this happen to your older brother over time, but I’ve never met anybody who is more upbeat.”
From a large family of seven children in Andersonstown, they are the sons of the late Belfast businessman Hugh O’Hare and mother Margaret who was one of nine killed in 1972 during the IRA Bloody Friday bombings.
“I’ve read a lot about trauma over the years. Growing up in Belfast during the Troubles wasn’t exactly a fun time,” Michael said.
“But our family have done well in terms of our career success, sometimes pretty extraordinary.
“We’re all very close and a lot of that is because of what happened back in the 1970s. We’ve come out of it in a very connected and positive way.
“I think it’s made us all over achievers if anything else. So I think if you can handle that sort of stuff, you can handle this quite easily.”
Malachy O’Hare pictured centre as a child, with his brothers Michael and Eamonn on either side. Also pictured are his late parents Hugh and Margaret.
Michael and Eamonn’s next day of cycling will cover around 120 miles, taking them from Minnesota into Wisconsin and along the Mississippi River.
“I’m about 2,200 miles in, but who’s counting,” Michael says.
“They’re long days, so I’m definitely tired. The first week will be tough for my brother, but your body gets to the stage where it accepts it’s going to be abused every day.
“I’m not creaking out of bed in the morning like I was at the start.
“I’ve been in the US a long time, but I don’t think I really appreciated the size and vastness of it.
“When you go through the agricultural basin of the United States you see corn fields for miles and there’s places like the Badlands in South Dakota which most Americans never get to see which are just incredible.”
With supporters able to track their journey live online, the brothers have pledged to match all donations dollar for dollar, with the money going to an award winning MS researcher from the University of Pennsylvania.
The 3,800 mile cycle will take 48 days and pass through 15 states. 
Michael O’Hare on a break outside Yellowstone National Park.