Ex-Ranger to cycle up hill 150 times to aid girl’s fund

A former elite Irish Ranger is gearing up for his toughest challenge yet — cycling one of Ireland’s steepest hill 150 times in one go to help fund a vital operation for a brave little girl.

Donncha Cuttriss, the former special forces soldier turned ultra-cyclist from Mayfield in Cork, completed 100 ascents of St Patrick’s Hill in Cork last September in six-and-a-half hours.

He now hopes to push his legs to the limit by cycling up the category one climb a gruelling 150 times on Sept 29 in aid of the Abbey’s Wish to Walk charity.

Abbey McGeough, 5, from Dublin Hill, she was born with hydrocephalus — a blockage of fluid to the brian — and was diagnosed with cerebral palsy in 2009. She has been using a wheelchair since.

However, her family, led by her mother, Lesliann, launched a fundraising campaign earlier this year to raise €100,000 to fund potentially life-changing surgery in the US that could help her walk.

Donncha, who is also the first Irish cyclist to finish the 3,000 mile Race Across America, from California to Maryland, in just under 11 days, said he was inspired by Abbey’s plight.

“I just like pushing myself and setting myself challenges and it’s a way of doing something good for charity,” he said. “The hill is inspirational as well — every Cork person has a story about it — and huge crowds turned out to support me last year, so I’m hoping it’ll be even better this year as the challenge is even bigger.

“It’s only an 80-mile cycle, but it’s a 22,000ft climb if I cycle up it 150 times and I’m looking forward to repeating the challenge.”

He will begin the challenge having completed the 1,300-mile (2,100km) Race Around Ireland which he hopes to finish in six days.

Abbey’s mum said she has been overwhelmed by the response to the launch of her appeal which has helped raise some €50,000.