It’s not every day you get to visit the most northerly point in Ireland, let alone cycle through it. Yet for 14 Cure Parkinson’s supporters on Saturday 6 September, the spectacular scenery of Malin Head set the scene for an epic week-long cycling adventure across the country.

After the success of last year’s Celtic Challenge in Scotland, this year we sent our brilliant fundraisers to cycle 445 miles from Malin Head in the North to Mizen Head in the South of Ireland.

The trip was brilliantly organised by the fantastic organisation Sport Ecosse, whose incredible support made every mile both enjoyable and memorable.

Across the week, our cyclists headed over the rolling hills from Buncrana to Bundoran, explored Knock and Castleisland and even had a ferry trip from Ennis for a crossing into County Kerry.

Our fundraisers bravely cycled in all weather conditions, through heavy winds, torrential rain, sunshine and even the occasional rainbow! The group then celebrated finishing their adventure with the dramatic cliffs of Mizen Head in the background.

Across the challenge, new friendships were formed, important conversations were had, and (most importantly) there was no shortage of laughter along the way.

As a small token of our gratitude, we put together a thank-you package for each cyclist, which included a beautiful handmade card by Rachel Corcoran Illustration and a gorgeous Atlantic candle from The Irish Chandler. We’re especially grateful to both companies for kindly offering us discounts on these lovely items!

To date the group has raised an incredible £30,000!

The team included two of our own Cure Parkinson’s colleagues, as well as three people living with Parkinson’s.   

“Cycling saved me”:  Pete’s story

One of these riders was Pete Anthem, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s back in 2015. He’s no stranger to cycling, having completed our Celtic Challenge in Scotland last year, among other cycling fundraisers.

For Pete, cycling has opened up a world of new opportunities, particularly after he initially struggled with his Parkinson’s diagnosis.

“When I was diagnosed, like a lot of people, I tried to ignore it,” he shares. “In 2022, I was in a position where I had to stop work after 40 years. I felt like I was a failure, and pretty rotten about myself and the future.”

He credits a cycling trip with Cure Parkinson’s as a turning point. “We raised quite a bit of money on that trip – that made me feel good, that I was contributing towards something,” Pete explains.

For him, cycling offers both physical and mental benefits. “I believe cycling is the best form of exercise to slow the progression of the condition,” he says. “It’s also not an impactful form of exercise – unless you fall off, of course!”

Then there are the mental benefits. “Cycling saved me,” Pete shares. “The self-esteem I lost came back, I made friends for life, and it introduced me to the world of Cure Parkinson’s.”

So why should people consider the Celtic Challenge next year? “It’s accessible – anyone can get a bike and start pedalling,” he says. “You also meet some wonderful people, all of whom have a common cause to raise funds to tackle Parkinson’s.”

A huge thank you to Pete and all our wonderful cyclists for taking part!

The Celtic Challenge 2025
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