The Malin to Mizen (M2M) cycle was the inaugural major voluntary campaign to raise much needed funds for the foundation.

The Malin to Mizen (M2M) cycle was the inaugural major voluntary campaign to raise much needed funds for the foundation. A group of 11 (novice) cyclists began the cycle from Ireland’s most Northerly point, Malin Head in Donegal, and over 670km and 5 and a half days later rolled into to Ireland’s most Southernly point, Mizen Head in West Cork. The group enjoyed tremendous support along the way especially in nightly stop-offs in Bundoran, Kiltmagh, Dromoland, Killarney and Bantry. The journey included a few spills, plenty of aching legs & backs and one particular day of monsoon like rain but most importantly, with a team effort, concluded with all riders in one piece and with a huge amount of money raised for the foundation.

The Shauna Kavanagh Foundation (SKF) was founded by the Kavanagh Family from Bray, who in 2017 lost their daughter Shauna to a long-term battle with Cystic Fibrosis (CF) at the age of 29. Despite the tragic loss of Shauna the Kavanagh family gained great heart from the tremendous treatment and support both they and Shauna received during her numerous and lengthy hospital visits in St. Vincent’s Hospital Dublin. With this in mind SKF was launched in November 2018 with the main aim to support people who face long term health challenges & hospital stays, like Cystic fibrosis, and their families.

This M2M journey included SKF’s CEO Dylan Kavanagh (brother of Shauna), Joan “Nonie” O’Reilly (Aunt of Shauna), as well as a remaining group aged from their 20s to their 60s all of whom all have a special link with Shauna whom the foundation was named after. The challenge was chosen to represent a brief insight into the challenges that CF patients face each day, both mentally and physically, as a result of their hereditary condition.

Avolon was proud to become the foundations first title sponsor and, including the generous donations of individual staff members, was the biggest individual contributor to the campaign which in total raised over €32,000.

The foundation has already donated €6,000 of the raised funds to St. Christopher’s Ward of St. Vincent’s University Hospital Dublin (a CF specific ward), a hospital close to Avolon’s community value being a mere 2.5km away from Avolon’s own HQ in Dublin. This initial donation will specifically help 6 patients with severe financial difficulties & homelessness and is hoped to be rolled out to the full ward, where there are currently 20 beds, in due course.

This practical support for these patients includes, but is not limited to, covering transport/parking costs, food costs, clothing costs, providing exercise equipment and many more day to day expenses. These costs are seldom considered for those affected by long-term health problems but the removal of which can dramatically ease the financial burden on these families.