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Alan’s Epic Cycle Across Australia Raises Funds For Comfort For Chemo Kerry

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Alan Philpott presents a cheque to Mary Fitzgerald of Comfort For Chemo Kerry accompanied by Radio Kerry’s Elaine Kinsella (Comfort for Chemo Kerry ambassador) at The Rose Hotel on Monday. Also included is Marta Witkowska, Brid O’Connor (Comfort for Chemo Kerry), Betty O’Rourke, Mary Philpott and Emily Philpott. Photo by Dermot Crean

A MAN who took part in a charity cycle of over 4,000 kilometres from Perth to Sydney presented €1,180 to Comfort For Chemo Kerry on Monday.

Alan Philpott from Currow and his brother David, who now lives in Germany, flew to Perth in October to take part in the gruelling cycle, which was also a chance for the brothers to catch up.

“We started on October 18 and finished up December 9. It took us 40 days of cycling with two and a half weeks of rest days,” said Alan, who explained the heat provided a challenge on the journey.

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“Some days it was over 40 degrees and we couldn’t cycle in that, but we did cycle in the mid 30s alright. The closer we got to Sydney the bushfires had a massive impact. One of the days we couldn’t catch our breaths with the smoke and the temperatures were hitting 45 degrees.”

They didn’t take the coastal route either, so they went straight across the country which was even hotter.

“There was a lot of sleeping in tents at the side of the road or at truckstops and rest areas along the way,” said Alan.

Alan wanted to raise money for a local charity so he set up a gofundme page with proceeds going to Comfort For Chemo Kerry. Mary Fitzgerald from the charity expressed her thanks to Alan for his efforts.