Two Tonnta Cub Scouts raise over €3,000 for Aoife’s Clown Doctors

Two Malahide Cub Scouts Cillian Geraghty aged 10 and Eoin Hendrick aged 9 (and a half) from Malahide undertook a sponsored 42km cycle (marathon distance! ) on the May Bank Holiday Monday in aid of Aoife's Clown Doctors. The boys who are great friends and are in 3rd Class in Pope John Pauls National School, Malahide. They are also members of Malahide Sea Scouts and play for St Sylvester's GAA and Kinsealy Soccer Club but due to COVID-19 situation are currently at home with their families.

In order to comply with the restrictions, they cycled laps within the grounds of Malahide Castle as that’s within 2km of their homes, with their dads in support to ensure they maintained their social distance. Neither of them had ever cycled 42km in one day before - a lot of energy bars were needed...and that was just for the dads!

Thanks to the boys grit and determination and tons of support from their local community, they completed their cycle in just over 3 hours and raised in excess of €2,400 (more than enough for 12 clown rounds!).Aoife’s Clown Doctors is a tribute to Aoife Hendrick who sadly passed away back in August 2012, having just turned 5 years of age. She had only been diagnosed 4 months earlier with leukaemia.In 2014, as part of Aoife's legacy, Aoife's parents Áine and Adrian, set up Aoife's Clown Doctors Ireland - they are professional entertainers who go into the wards of Crumlin and Temple St hospitals in Dublin, Laura Lynn and Galway hospital to bring some fun and smiles to the children and families there. They are working to expand the service to other hospitals in Ireland later in 2020.Each clown-round costs €200. The funds donated from this cycle will help to continue to provide Clown Doctors for the children and families in these wards. As Áine and Adrian say 'We know from our own experience of the fun Aoife had with the clowns, how humour can lift the day and bring a smile to even the most sick of children.'Eoin & Cillian would like to thank everyone who supported them on this endeavour - they areblown away by the support they received.

More Information on Aoife’s Clown Doctors at https://www.gofundme.com/f/covid19-42km-cycle-for-aoifes-cl