10 Million Metre Challenge

We are fundraising to remember our late, great friend David Earlie, affectionately known as "Dollars". David died on 15 March 2020 after bravely battling a bile duct cancer diagnosis that saw him undergo rigorous treatment regimen culminating in a liver transplant in August 2017.  

He left behind a heart broken family – his wife Lisa, children Elisabeth (7) and Matthew (5), his mum, Mary, his sisters Kate and Maebh and his father Tom, as well as close extended family and a large circle of wonderful friends. 

As part of his recovery and rehab from his cancer treatment and transplant surgery, David started rowing under the guidance of his coach Ciaran Ruddock of FFS gyms. Overcome with gratitude for the medical treatment he received and the support from ARC, David took his rowing endeavours further and made it his mission to row One Million Metres to raise money for these causes. Sadly, half way through, Dave’s cancer returned and he never got to hit his million metre milestone. David had raised €18,000 by the time he died. 

David was overwhelmed by the generosity of those who donated, and we, together with David’s family would like to thank those who have already been so kind. 

We knew how passionate David was about completing his million metres, and so in his honour, we set out to finish it for him, ensuring he could leave the legacy he wished for. 

Nine of his friends (Cillian Quinn, Bryan McSweeney, Gareth McCluskey, Ian Brady, James Caffrey, Peter Glynn, Philip Smith, Piarais Neary & Richard Kearney) set ourselves a challenge to each run One Million Metres and help raise funds for ARC and Breakthrough Cancer research, two causes that David had identified as important to him during his fight. 

David’s mum Mary and sister Maebh completed David’s rowing target in March 2021 and so cumulatively, we will have travelled TEN MILLION METRES in memory of our great friend, Dave. 

We have been running since 27th September 2020, thinking of Dave every step of every run. We are reaching the final push in our challenge and would be so grateful for any donations that you could spare as we slog it out on the roads in David's memory.

David’s employer, Davy, has generously agreed to match the first €10,000of our fundraising effort and we are grateful for that support. 

Dave – we love you. This is for you x