A young Irishman is preparing for an extraordinary feat of endurance, cycling from his home county to the foot of the world's highest mountain to raise vital funds for sick children.
An Epic Journey for a Vital Cause
Daragh Cronin, a 23-year-old from Cork, aims to generate €30,000 for the children's wards at Cork University Hospital (CUH). He plans to embark on his mammoth bicycle journey from Ireland to Mount Everest, driven by a desire to "give back" to the community that supported his previous adventures.
Mr Cronin stated his motivation is deeply personal, expressing his wish for children across Munster to have access to "best-in-class paediatric care." He also hopes his endeavour will inspire the region's youth to relentlessly pursue their own dreams.
The Route and the Record Attempt
The ambitious expedition is scheduled to commence on 14 February 2026 from the Blackrock hurling club in Cork. The route will see Mr Cronin take a ferry from Rosslare to France before traversing Europe and the Middle East. His path will then take him across Oman, through Pakistan and India, and into Nepal towards his ultimate goal.
Beyond the cycling, he aims to set a unique record. "The record I’m trying to set is to hike the bike from a place called Lukla to Everest base camp, and no Irish person has done that," he explained. His plan involves cycling as far as possible in Nepal before shouldering his bike for the final trek from Lukla to base camp.
Inspired by Past Adventures
This is not the Cork native's first long-distance challenge. He previously cycled the length of Africa, covering nearly 13,500 kilometres from Morocco to South Africa despite having "zero prior cycling or camping experience." He recalled facing extreme situations, including having guns pointed at him, but emphasised the overwhelming kindness he encountered.
That journey, which many told him would be "impossible," inspired his current charitable mission. "I had crazy support when I went to Africa, half of Cork had my back, so I want to do something to give back this time," Mr Cronin said. He is fundraising through the official CUH Charity.
Drawing on his past experiences, he approaches the new challenge with cautious optimism, trusting his instincts to navigate difficult situations. "This time I want to do it for a cause," he affirmed.
Those wishing to support Daragh Cronin's remarkable fundraiser for paediatric care can find his donation page at idonate.ie/roaminwithcronin.
