We were delighted to present Cancer Fund For Children a massive £2000 following our recent in-store collections and donation from McKeevers Chemists to support Rory Best's Miles to Mayo Challenge. This huge amount will go a long way to support children across Ireland cope with the impact of cancer diagnosis.

Pictured above is Helen McKeever our Pharmacist in Newcastle branch presenting Mairead Rodgers from Cancer Fund for Children the cheque.

To mark Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, Rory shone a light on the experiences of children and young people impacted by cancer by walking a mile in their shoes or in this case, walk the 180 miles from Daisy Lodge, the charity’s therapeutic short break centre in Newcastle, Co. Down, to the site of their proposed new Daisy Lodge in Cong, Co. Mayo. The 10-day challenge took place in September, during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Last year, the charity helped support 1,500 children and young people through their journey with cancer.

Speaking after the challenge, Rory Best said: “I have just been blown away by the support I have received. It has made those 200 miles, 370,000 steps, and ice baths worthwhile.

“I would like to thank everyone who has got behind me on this challenge – my wife Jodie, my kids, my family and friends, our incredible sponsors, my amazing support team, and of course everyone who has and continues to donate so generously.”

The money raised will help Cancer Fund for Children provide therapeutic short breaks to children diagnosed with cancer and their families at Daisy Lodge in Newcastle, Co. Down. It will also help the charity to build a much-needed second Daisy Lodge in Cong, Co. Mayo.

“For every child they can support, there are another six they cannot,” Best explained.

“When I arrived in Cong, I said that children with cancer need to get the best support once they leave hospital, and when they need respite breaks, they can come to places like Daisy Lodge in Newcastle and Mayo where they get to be treated like the stars they are. This is only the beginning.

“The walk to Cong may be over but the journey to a Daisy Lodge in Co. Mayo has just begun,” Best added, urging his supporters to continue to support the Cancer Fund for Children.

Cancer Fund for Children’s chief executive Phil Alexander added: “This is an incredible effort by Rory Best and we cannot thank him, his wife Jodie, family, friends and our sponsors enough. Thank you so much to everyone who donated.

McKeevers Chemists would like to say a massive thank you to everyone who supported Rory on his walk, customers who donated in our stores and our staff in all the branches. We couldn't have done this without you all and I'm sure Rory was delighted to see you all on his mammoth journey!