By Michelle Crean

Over the coming days Killarney native Damien O’Sullivan and his friends are preparing to cycle the entire length of the country - completing a whopping total distance of 642.81km and a total elevation gain of 4,707m!

From this Thursday (March 24) to Sunday (March 27) Damien from Knockmanagh will team up with ex Connacht player Jack Dinneen, ex Irish 7’s player and Love Island winner Greg O’Shea, and Eduardo Moffitt, and cycle from Malin Head to Mizen Head.

They'll cycle from north to south from Malin Head to Bundoran on day one, Bundoran to Oranmore on day two, Oranmore to Killarney on day three, and finally finish Killarney to Mizen Head on Sunday leaving from the Dromhall Hotel that morning at 9am.

This cycling challenge is one of a number of fundraising activities that the group have arranged over the last few months including twice completing 'The Four Peaks Challenge’ where one summits the highest peak in each province in as quick a time as possible, and a 480km cycle across the month of November, in addition to taking part in the ‘Grow a Mo’ Movember campaign. All these efforts, and with more to come, are culminating in the ultimate challenge of climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro in June of this year.

The group are taking on these challenges to help raise funds and awareness for the Movember charity, the world’s leading men’s health organisation and support causes covering testicular cancer, prostate cancer and men’s mental health and suicide prevention.

With a fundraising target of €30,000, the team would appreciate any support that can be provided via GoFundMe 'Kilimanjaro '22'.

Damien went to primary school in Tiernaboul followed by The Sem and played football for Killarney Legion as an adult and soccer with Killarney Athletic.

“As is the case for most people, we have been affected by mental health and suicide, in addition to a growing number of men living through testicular cancer, and prostate cancer in our families and friend’s groups,” Damien told the Killarney Advertiser.

“Far too often men don’t know what to do or fail to act in each of these areas. Over the past few years I have taken part in Movember to help raise awareness for all aspects of men’s health and help fund the brilliant work the Movember charity do. Last July both Jack Dinneen and I were approached by Movember to ask if we would be interested in stepping up our efforts to support the charity, which we jumped at.

"We will be undertaking the cycle from Malin to Mizen Head to again raise awareness and support for the Movember charity. To say we are excited would be an understatement as is it a bucket list event for us all.

"We have been and continue to work hard at this, so if you would like to keep up to date with our journey, you can find us on Instagram and Facebook: Kilimanjaro_22.”