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05 Dec 2025
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05 Dec 2025
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AN EXTRAORDINARY Limerick man is taking on a mammoth challenge to raise money for Down Syndrome Limerick.
Conor O'Dea and 23 members of his cycling friends and family will complete a 600km cycle from Malin to Mizen Head from June 12-16.
Conor is a former Ironman triathlete who suffered a serious spinal injury when training for an Ironman event in 2018.
He spent 18 months in rehab hospitals and has continued his rehabilitation programme at home since 2020.
Last year Conor received a trike from Challenged Athletes Foundation which has allowed him to get back to cycling and back in training for his Malin to Mizen mission.He will cycle this trike for the event.
Conor and company will be raising funds for two charities – Down Syndrome Limerick, a local Limerick charity supporting people of all ages with Down syndrome and Challenged Athletes Foundation, who have given Conor the gift of cycling by funding the adapted trike for him.
Speaking about the challenge, the Ennis Road local said: “After my accident in 2018, I was told that every spinal injury and every recovery was different and that my recovery would be influenced by how hard I was willingly to work on my rehabilitation program.
“As a very active sportsman and triathlete I had no problem working hard and following a rehabilitation program.
“Some days it wasn’t easy but with lots of incredible help from my family and friends it has been great to challenge the norm and get back to what I love doing - albeit in a slightly different way”.
Conor continued: “I have supported Down Syndrome Limerick for many years through my participation in the Tour de Munster and more recently helping with the organisation of the Sean Kelly Three Counties Cycle here in Limerick.
“The charity does great work and I have witnessed the amazing impact that they have on people’s lives.
“Challenged Athletes Foundation are an amazing charity and only for them I wouldn’t be able to do the Malin to Mizen cycle.”
To support Conor and his colleagues go to idonate.ie/event/malin2mizendsl
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