Crusheen’s Hendrik Ketelaar will take to the road cycling from Kinsale to Derry along the Wild Atlantic Way taking nothing with him but his bike and tent.
A native of the Netherlands, he will face challenging terrain and battle the elements along the West coast to raise funds for charity and a local cause. His challenge will begin on Saturday July 18th with Sunday July 26th the scheduled finish date.
Funding raised for Hendrik’s efforts on the bike will go towards Bone Marrow for Leukaemia Trust (BMLT). In particular it will go towards trying to secure a dedicated bone marrow transplant unit in St. James’s Hospital Dublin.
This is the only location in Ireland where an adult can receive a sibling or matched unrelated donor stem cell transplant. The trust also provides direct support for patients and their relatives who require accommodation nearby so that they can continue to receive their ongoing critical care. This level of support significantly reduces the added worry and financial burden to families during recovery.
BMLT is a cause close to Hendrik’s heart. In 2015, his brother-in-law, Gary O’Callaghan from Shannon underwent a successful stem cell transplant donated by his brother Mike which saved his life. Gary was a recipient of the life-saving care, accommodation and day to day support provided by this Trust. The success of the BMLT depends entirely on the generosity of donations.
Living near Crusheen, Hendrik couldn’t escape the lure of hurling and his three sons all line out for the Blood and Bandages where they have been long standing members. A portion of the funds raised will also support this clubs ongoing development efforts and to help increase youth participation in sport.
A GoFundMe link to support Hendrik’s Wild Cycle for Leukaemia and Youth Sport is available online.
