The Down Syndrome Centre

Swords to Slovakia Charity Cycle

Niall Kenny
Team

Swords to Slovakia Charity Cycle

Team captain: Niall Kenny

About

About This Journey – By Niall Kenny

My name is Niall Kenny, and this July, I’ll be setting off on the biggest physical and emotional challenge of my life: cycling 2,100 kilometres across Europe—from Ashbourne Meath / Swords Dublin all the way to Eastern Slovakia - in support of two incredible charities that are very close to my heart.

Follow our journey across Europe here

Volám sa Niall Kenny a v júli sa chystám podniknúť jednu z najväčších výziev v mojom živote: prejsť na bicykli 2100 kilometrov naprieč Európou z Dublinu v Írsku až po východné Slovensko - na podporu dvoch úžasných charitatívnych organizácií, Down Syndrom centre v Dublin Swords a Rehabilitačné centrum Natália v Hlohovci.

 

 

 

I won’t be doing it alone. I’m proud (and slightly nervous!) to be joined by my brother Gavin and our 70-year-old father, Kevin. Yes, my Dad at 70 years young is taking on this epic journey too. Together, the three of us will cycle through eight countries in 21 days, and if that isnt enough of a challenge, we want to climb at least 8,848 metres in elevation, the height of Mount Everest.

The Inspiration for the trip is my daughter Saoirse!

Saoirse was born with Down syndrome, and she attends The Down Syndrome Centre here in Dublin. The support we’ve received from them has been life-changing—not just for Saoirse, but for our whole family. They provide specialist, therapy-led services like speech and language therapy, physiotherapy, baby massage, and music classes, all at subsidised rates. They also support families like ours through wellness nights for parents and sibling support groups.

What makes it even more special—and urgent—is that The Down Syndrome Centre receives no government funding. Everything they offer is made possible by fundraising and generous donors. I want to help ensure they can continue that work for families like mine.

We also wanted to include my wife Zuzana’s home country (Slovakia) in this effort. That’s why we’ve chosen to split the funds raised 50/50 with The Children’s Rehabilitation Centre Natalia Hlohovec in Slovakia, another amazing organisation doing vital therapy work for children with additional needs. I've raised money for this center in the past and they do wonderful work. A note from the team in Centrum Natalia: "Thanks to the courage and perseverance of parents who fight every day for a better life for their children, and thanks to the kindness of donors who stand by our side, we are able to do work that truly matters. Thank you for helping us help others“. Katarína and Petra, Centrum Natália Slovakia

We’re covering all of the trip costs ourselves—flights, ferries, accommodation, gear—so that 100% of what you donate goes directly to these two incredible charities.

This isn’t just a cycle. It’s a journey of love, determination, and gratitude.

Thank you for supporting us—we’ll keep you posted every step of the way. 

— Niall

 

High Level Itinerary*

  1. Launch event in Down Syndrome Centre Swords, Dublin - July 14th at 4pm
  2. Leaving Ireland - July 16th 
  3. Travel via Wales and England
  4. France - July 17th
  5. Belgium - July 18th to 20th
  6. Luxembourg - July 21st
  7. Germany - July 22nd to 27th
  8. Austria - July 28th to 30th
  9. Slovakia Arrival in Bratislava July 30th
  10. Slovakia Arrival in Centrum Natalia Hlohovec - July 31st
  11. Slovakia Nitra to The East & FINISH - August 1st to 3rd

*Open to anyone who wants to join for a day or more

Viac po slovensky:

Na tejto ceste ma budú sprevádzať môj brat Gavin a môj otec Kevin, ktorý teraz v maji oslávil 70ku. Spoločné budeme bicyklovať cez 8 krajín za 21 dni a aby to nebolo malo chceme zvládnuť najmenej 8848 metrov prevýšenie (výšku Mount Everestu).

Dôvodom prečo sme sa rozhodli pre takúto byciklovu výzvu je moja dcéra Saoirse. Saoirse sa narodila s Downovym syndrómom a navštevuje centrum vo Swords. Pomoc a podpora, ktorú dostávame v tom centre zmenila život nielen Saoirse ale celej našej rodine.

Centrum vo Swords poskytuje špecializované terapie a služby ako logopédia, fyzioterapia, masáže pre babatka, hudobné hodiny , a to všetko za dotované sadzby ( ceny). Taktiež podporujú aj rodiny ako ta naša organizovaním wellness večerov pre rodičov a podporných skupín pre surodencov.
 
Ešte vynimocnejšim a naliehavejsim je fakt, ze Down Syndrome Center nedostáva žiadne financovanie od vlady. Všetky služby, ktoré ponúkajú sú možné vďaka zbierkam a stedrym darcom. Chcel by som týmto spôsobom pomôcť zabezpečiť , aby mohli v tejto praci pre rodiny ako je ta moja pokračovať aj naďalej.
 
Do tohto úsilia (projektu) sme sa chceli zapojiť aj rodnú krajinu mojej manželky Zuzany, Slovensko. Preto sme sa rozhodli rozdeliť vyzbierané prostriedky 50/50 s ďalšou uzasnou organizáciou, ktorou je Rehabilitačné centrum Natália v Hlohovci. Toto centrum poskytuje odbornu fyzioterapeuticku a špecialno-pedagogicku pomoc deťom so špeciálnymi potrebami.
 
Všetky náklady ako letenky, trajekty, ubytovanie, výbavu si hradime sami , takže 100% darovanej sumy pôjde týmto dvom úžasným organizaciam.
 
Toto nie je len o ceste na bicykli ale hlavne je to cesta lasky, odhodlania a vdacnosti.
 
Dakujeme za vasu podporu. Budeme vas priebezne informovat o kazdom kroku.

"Vďaka odvahe a vytrvalosti rodičov, ktorí každý deň bojujú za lepší život svojich detí, a vďaka šľachetnosti darcov, ktorí stoja pri nás, môžeme robiť prácu, ktorá má skutočný zmysel. Ďakujeme, že nám pomáhate pomáhať“. Katarína a Petra, Centrum Natália Slovensko

 

 

 

73%

Funded

  • Target
    €50K
  • Raised so far
    €36.7K
  • Number of donors
    565

About

About This Journey – By Niall Kenny

My name is Niall Kenny, and this July, I’ll be setting off on the biggest physical and emotional challenge of my life: cycling 2,100 kilometres across Europe—from Ashbourne Meath / Swords Dublin all the way to Eastern Slovakia - in support of two incredible charities that are very close to my heart.

Follow our journey across Europe here

Volám sa Niall Kenny a v júli sa chystám podniknúť jednu z najväčších výziev v mojom živote: prejsť na bicykli 2100 kilometrov naprieč Európou z Dublinu v Írsku až po východné Slovensko - na podporu dvoch úžasných charitatívnych organizácií, Down Syndrom centre v Dublin Swords a Rehabilitačné centrum Natália v Hlohovci.

 

 

 

I won’t be doing it alone. I’m proud (and slightly nervous!) to be joined by my brother Gavin and our 70-year-old father, Kevin. Yes, my Dad at 70 years young is taking on this epic journey too. Together, the three of us will cycle through eight countries in 21 days, and if that isnt enough of a challenge, we want to climb at least 8,848 metres in elevation, the height of Mount Everest.

The Inspiration for the trip is my daughter Saoirse!

Saoirse was born with Down syndrome, and she attends The Down Syndrome Centre here in Dublin. The support we’ve received from them has been life-changing—not just for Saoirse, but for our whole family. They provide specialist, therapy-led services like speech and language therapy, physiotherapy, baby massage, and music classes, all at subsidised rates. They also support families like ours through wellness nights for parents and sibling support groups.

What makes it even more special—and urgent—is that The Down Syndrome Centre receives no government funding. Everything they offer is made possible by fundraising and generous donors. I want to help ensure they can continue that work for families like mine.

We also wanted to include my wife Zuzana’s home country (Slovakia) in this effort. That’s why we’ve chosen to split the funds raised 50/50 with The Children’s Rehabilitation Centre Natalia Hlohovec in Slovakia, another amazing organisation doing vital therapy work for children with additional needs. I've raised money for this center in the past and they do wonderful work. A note from the team in Centrum Natalia: "Thanks to the courage and perseverance of parents who fight every day for a better life for their children, and thanks to the kindness of donors who stand by our side, we are able to do work that truly matters. Thank you for helping us help others“. Katarína and Petra, Centrum Natália Slovakia

We’re covering all of the trip costs ourselves—flights, ferries, accommodation, gear—so that 100% of what you donate goes directly to these two incredible charities.

This isn’t just a cycle. It’s a journey of love, determination, and gratitude.

Thank you for supporting us—we’ll keep you posted every step of the way. 

— Niall

 

High Level Itinerary*

  1. Launch event in Down Syndrome Centre Swords, Dublin - July 14th at 4pm
  2. Leaving Ireland - July 16th 
  3. Travel via Wales and England
  4. France - July 17th
  5. Belgium - July 18th to 20th
  6. Luxembourg - July 21st
  7. Germany - July 22nd to 27th
  8. Austria - July 28th to 30th
  9. Slovakia Arrival in Bratislava July 30th
  10. Slovakia Arrival in Centrum Natalia Hlohovec - July 31st
  11. Slovakia Nitra to The East & FINISH - August 1st to 3rd

*Open to anyone who wants to join for a day or more

Viac po slovensky:

Na tejto ceste ma budú sprevádzať môj brat Gavin a môj otec Kevin, ktorý teraz v maji oslávil 70ku. Spoločné budeme bicyklovať cez 8 krajín za 21 dni a aby to nebolo malo chceme zvládnuť najmenej 8848 metrov prevýšenie (výšku Mount Everestu).

Dôvodom prečo sme sa rozhodli pre takúto byciklovu výzvu je moja dcéra Saoirse. Saoirse sa narodila s Downovym syndrómom a navštevuje centrum vo Swords. Pomoc a podpora, ktorú dostávame v tom centre zmenila život nielen Saoirse ale celej našej rodine.

Centrum vo Swords poskytuje špecializované terapie a služby ako logopédia, fyzioterapia, masáže pre babatka, hudobné hodiny , a to všetko za dotované sadzby ( ceny). Taktiež podporujú aj rodiny ako ta naša organizovaním wellness večerov pre rodičov a podporných skupín pre surodencov.
 
Ešte vynimocnejšim a naliehavejsim je fakt, ze Down Syndrome Center nedostáva žiadne financovanie od vlady. Všetky služby, ktoré ponúkajú sú možné vďaka zbierkam a stedrym darcom. Chcel by som týmto spôsobom pomôcť zabezpečiť , aby mohli v tejto praci pre rodiny ako je ta moja pokračovať aj naďalej.
 
Do tohto úsilia (projektu) sme sa chceli zapojiť aj rodnú krajinu mojej manželky Zuzany, Slovensko. Preto sme sa rozhodli rozdeliť vyzbierané prostriedky 50/50 s ďalšou uzasnou organizáciou, ktorou je Rehabilitačné centrum Natália v Hlohovci. Toto centrum poskytuje odbornu fyzioterapeuticku a špecialno-pedagogicku pomoc deťom so špeciálnymi potrebami.
 
Všetky náklady ako letenky, trajekty, ubytovanie, výbavu si hradime sami , takže 100% darovanej sumy pôjde týmto dvom úžasným organizaciam.
 
Toto nie je len o ceste na bicykli ale hlavne je to cesta lasky, odhodlania a vdacnosti.
 
Dakujeme za vasu podporu. Budeme vas priebezne informovat o kazdom kroku.

"Vďaka odvahe a vytrvalosti rodičov, ktorí každý deň bojujú za lepší život svojich detí, a vďaka šľachetnosti darcov, ktorí stoja pri nás, môžeme robiť prácu, ktorá má skutočný zmysel. Ďakujeme, že nám pomáhate pomáhať“. Katarína a Petra, Centrum Natália Slovensko