A letter to everyone that was in any way involved in the ‘Cycle for Eimear’.

It doesn’t happen often, but this incredible fundraiser has left me speechless, which for anyone who knows me on the football field will find hard to believe!

My family and I have been truly overwhelmed by the support and generosity we have received. 

Thank You:

-I would like to begin by thanking the incredible fundraising committee of Suzann McLoughlin, Cian Royston, Emma Troy, Fergal Lynch, Shelagh McKenna and TJ Reilly. They went above and beyond!

-Thank you to the Cully family who provided the trucks to shelter and promote the cyclists. Thank you to Bertie McLoughlin, Michael Kennedy and Spun Cycles for providing the bikes. Thank you to the venues, Navan Rugby Club, St. Mary’s primary school, and Boardsmill GAA, for hosting. Thanks to local media platforms, the Meath Chroncile and Meath Daily TV for their coverage.

-Thank you to all 120 of you who cycled on the day, I realized how long a half hour of cycling was, while watching some groups! Especially for the Meath Senior Ladies football team who completed a full training session that morning.  Thanks to all local businesses who donated and supported, special thanks to Bosca who delivered boxes of ice creams and coupons to the cyclists! Thank you to all the volunteers who baked, made tea and coffee, sanitized, directed traffic, and so forth, that helped make the day even more enjoyable. 

-Thank you to all of the teams that did their own fundraising activities: Meath Minor Lads, Meath Minor Ladies, Clonard LGFC, Trim LGFC, Senior County Camogiers and Maria Kealy, Senior County Hurlers, Andy McEntee and Senior Men’s football team, Gowna GAA, Meath U20’s and their management, and my own clubmates, Aideen Guy and Laura Bagnall and crew (in Sydney). I would like to wish all of these teams, and my own club, Boardsmill, all of the very best in their respective competitions. The GAA community is alive & strong and hopefully a good indicator of what’s to come!

-Thank you to all the well-known people in every video that promoted the cycle and the people who put the videos together. A special word of congratulations to Minister Helen McEntee on the birth of her baby. It was also great to see how well Graham Geraghty is doing, and I wish him all the best in his recovery.  

-Finally, I would like to thank every person who donated and sent me good wishes, from people I went to school and college with, to players I have played with and against. The support and generosity has been phenomenal. 

And finally…

As I said in my interview with Fergal Lynch for the Meath Chronicle, I am truly blessed and so lucky to have the family and friends I do. When this fundraiser was first discussed I was hesitant, but I was convinced by the club when I realized that it could really take the stresses, strains and financial pressures that come with having a cancer diagnosis, off my family and I. Never did I think that it would have taken on such a massive momentum, but I should have considering the fantastic community involved! Boardsmill GAA always give 200% commitment to anything they do, and the GAA and rugby family are terrific. 

Unfortunately, too many people people’s lives are affected by cancer, and it is a word that no one ever wants to hear, but if there is something wrong or not quite right with your body, get it checked out asap. The earlier you get help the better for any illness.   

This last year has been challenging for everyone. No one knows what anyone has been through, so please be kind to others as things start to open again. Most importantly be kind to yourself.

As a closing word, if you can donate blood, please do. So many cancer patients rely strongly on regular blood and platelet transfusions.

Thanks a million to everyone again for all your help, support, kind words and donations. My family and I are extremely grateful. I look forward to giving back to the amazing Haematology and Oncology ward, St. Vincent’s of the Mater Hospital, that took such brilliant care of me. 

Yours gratefully,

Eimear x