This Thursday afternoon Portlaoise people will have the opportunity to meet up with a true sporting legend, and in the process raise funds to support children and young people impacted by cancer.

Former Ulster and Ireland rugby captain Rory Best, set out on Tuesday morning to walk over 300km from Dublin to Mayo this week, stopping off in Portlaoise on Thursday 18 May.

All going to plan, Rory will be moving through the town around 4pm and hitting the rugby club around 5pm where he will finish this stage of his walk.

The funds raised will help Cancer Fund for Children continue to expand their services across the island of Ireland and progress with the building of Daisy Lodge, a therapeutic short break centre for children diagnosed with cancer and their families which will be built in Cong Co. Mayo.

Since Rory completed his first challenge in 2021, Cancer Fund for Children have expanded their services across Ireland, employing new support staff and they have recruited a new Cancer Support Specialist based on St John’s Ward in Children’s Health Ireland at Crumlin.

Portlaoise RFC are delighted and honoured that Rory has chosen to visit their grounds and clubhouse at Togher, and the club has been doing its bit to help raise funds for this very worthy cause.

People can donate through the link at https://www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/portlaoiserfcrm2m. Between this and the club’s fundraiser raffle for one of Rory’s signed jerseys, they have already raised in the region of €4,000. And they are hopeful they will get a few more euro between now and on the day itself.