ULTRA cyclist Joe Barr is aiming to beat the Guinness world record for the most miles cycled in seven days to raise funds in tribute to his son who was diagnosed with brain cancer.
The 62-year-old sportsman will begin his challenge to cycle 2,180 miles in 168 hours/seven days on Sunday, hoping to raise much needed funds for young people impacted by cancer.
His efforts are in support of Cancer Fund for Children, which provides short breaks to children impacted by cancer and their families at its therapeutic centre, Daisy Lodge in Newcastle, and soon a similar planned centre in Mayo.
Off the back of an incredible 45-year professional cycling career, Mr Barr is taking on the mammoth challenge of beating the Guinness world record for the most miles cycled in seven days, currently held by Scottish cyclist Josh Quiglet at an incredible 2,179 miles.
Whilst Mr Barr, who is originally from Donegal, has always had a passion for cycling, his motivation to compete his first endurance cycling race in 2009 was in honour of his son Ross. Against the odds in 2008, Ross celebrated his second birthday after being diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour at just five-months-old.
He has endured numerous rounds of treatment and is now a thriving 15-year-old.
In the early years of Ross’s cancer diagnosis, he and his family were invited to Daisy Lodge for some much-needed respite.
"Every family in Ireland with a cancer diagnosis should have the opportunity to experience Daisy Lodge, it’s a fantastic place," said Mr Barr.
"Whenever you go down there, they just do everything for you, so effectively it's a home from home and it allowed us to be together as a 'normal' family again and that’s why I’m so motivated to raise as much funds as I can to support the new Daisy Lodge set to be built in Cong, Co. Mayo."
Mr Barr had retired from professional cycling in 2004, but got back on the bike in 2009 to fund raise for the charity and has since competed in numerous endurance races around the world, including the 3000+ mile race across America.
He has won the 1,500-mile race around Ireland twice and holds multiple endurance world records.
This seven-day highest mileage Guinness world record attempt will be his most ambitious challenge using the route of Malin Head to Mizen Head.
Phil Alexander from the Cancer Fund for Children said: "We are so grateful to Joe for helping to raise funds for such a life-changing facility for children and their families.
"At Cancer Fund for Children, we understand that behind every childhood cancer diagnosis there is a whole family affected, and beyond the essential medical care there is a family life that needs to be rebuilt.
"A new Daisy Lodge in Mayo would mean so much to these families."
For information, please visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/joeguinnessworldrecord.
