By Michelle Crean

This year's 54321 Challenge is all set but with a difference this year as it's an all female event.

The event originally started nine years ago with a team of five people over four days, completing three cycles, and climbing two mountians for one cause – a local charity.

Given the ongoing COVID-19 situation, this year again will see restricted numbers taking part in the event.

The 54321 Challenge’s top priority is to ensure the safety of its participants and in the current climate, this extends to their families, neighbours, friends etc.

This year the 10 ladies will take to the roads and mountains in two teams of five over the four days of the event from Thursday August 19 to Sunday 22 inclusive.

It will include a cycle the Ring of Kerry on day one (Thursday 19), a climb up Carrantuohill on day two (Friday 20th), a cycle from Killarney to the foot of Cnoc Na Tobair and then climb Cnoc Na Tobair on day 3 (Saturday 21) finishing off with a cycle of the Skellig Ring on day four (Sunday 22nd).

The committee are currently looking at ways other people can participate in an online version of the Challenge while representing and raising funds for their chosen charity, and they will be announcing details in the coming weeks via their website and social media.

The Challenge has raised almost €242,000 to date supporting a number of very deserving Kerry charities. This year’s selected charity is Comfort for Chemo Kerry, whose misson is to fundraise €5 million to build and equip a state-of-the-art purpose built chemotherapy unit as a centre of excellence for the patients of Kerry, who need chemotherapy and oncology treatments.

"When choosing this year’s charity the organisers contacted a past participant and a dear friend to us all Mairead Dunphy from Glencar who is currently on her own journey with cancer," Tony Dunne, PRO for the Challenge told the Killarney Advertiser.

"We wanted to show our support to Mairead and knowing that she would like to support those who have supported her on her journey so far, she had already being looking at ideas to raise much needed funds for Comfort for Chemo Kerry. Little did we think that Mairead would be actually contemplating taken part in the event but in true style and testament to the person that she is, she will be one of the 10 participants. We would be very grateful for any contribution to this worthwhile cause and supporting the participants of this year’s Challenge."

You can donate via www.54321challenge.org or go to the Comfort for Chemo Kerry Facebook page for online donation information.

To see more about the challenge and the people taking part and to donate go to Facebook: 54321challenge.

"With your support and donations, we can support this very deserving cause."