Good deed on the double

FUNDRAISER Father and sons to climb Croagh Patrick twice

A Cavan trio is set to brave Croagh Patrick not once, but twice in one day at the end of this month to raise money for cancer.

Bailieborough native Derek McElwaine will be taking on the three and a half hour trek with his two sons, James (10) and Conor (7) on July 20.

“Myself and my sons we always climb Croagh Patrick,” Derek explained.

They have been going on the expedition since his oldest son James was aged four years. However they could not go to the Mayo mountain for the last two years because of the pandemic.

“It was James’s idea, he’s only ten,” Derek said, explaining James was only eight when the idea first popped into his head.

“The last time we did it was 2018,” the Lakeland Dairies chargehand explained.

“When we got down to the bottom James suggested ‘Can we go back up Daddy’?”

Thinking his son was “cracked” Derek replied: “We’ll not do it, but I’ll tell you what, maybe someday we will do it twice in one day.”

So the idea was born and the three boys are set to climb the fourth highest mountain in Ireland on July 20.

They are raising much-needed funds for Bailieborough Cancer Comfort Ltd, a voluntary organisation that supports people with cancer.

The organisation is very close to the McElwaine family’s heart, with both of Derek’s parents - Rita and Victor McElwaine - having battled cancer in recent times.

Derek explained his mother battled breast cancer in 2018, from which she has recovered.

“She made a good recovery, she had an operation, chemo, the whole lot,” he said.

“This year my father got prostate cancer.”

His father has availed of Bailieborough Cancer Comfort Ltd services over the past couple of weeks.

“For five weeks they brought him up and down to Dublin for treatment,” he said, explaining the essential work they do for the community.

Funds raised will go towards car expenses such as NCT, diesel, insurance, etc.

“It’s for the upkeep of the car and the upkeep of the service, to ensure that the service keeps going.

“They helped my father and we just said we’d give something back,” he explained.

James has “full confidence” that his sons will complete the mission on July 20.

“They know they are doing it to help other people.

“They’re determined and that’s it, I know in my heart and soul if they have my energy and my stubbornness, they’ll do it.”

He praised the community for the well wishes and support to date, with collections taking place at work, good luck cards coming in the post and cheques being handed in.

“Even when people meet my mother they’re giving her money as well.

“We’re getting great support and great comments from people.

“There’s a great buzz at the minute.”

People can donate on the Facebook fundraiser here:

Derek said they are nearly at the €4000 mark and urged people to donate for a worthy cause.

“Time is getting short so there’s limited time to get donating,” he concluded.