Rory Best is back on the road for Cancer Fund for Children — and this Sunday he walks through the heart of Belfast.
Photo: Ulster Rugby on X
Day 2 of Rory’s Miles 2 Mayo — the Trilogy runs from Bangor Marina to Affidea Stadium on Sunday 13 September 2026. It’s the Northern Ireland centrepiece of a 235-mile island walk with 21 business leaders, aiming to raise around £1.2 million toward equipping Daisy Lodge Cong, the charity’s second therapeutic centre due to open in 2027.
Best — former Ireland and Ulster captain, now Ulster Rugby’s General Manager — has already helped raise over £2 million across earlier Miles 2 Mayo challenges. This is billed as the final chapter of the trilogy.
Sunday’s route — Bangor to Ravenhill
The walk leaves Bangor Marina and heads through Crawfordsburn, Craigantlet, Dundonald and the grounds of Stormont’s Parliament Buildings, then into Ballyhackamore and Belfast landmarks — including the SSE Arena, City Hall and the Grand Opera House — before passing the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children, Kingsbridge Private Hospital and Ormeau Park on the way into Affidea Stadium.
Ireland and Ulster’s Jacob Stockdale is due to guest-walk the Stormont grounds with the Rooney family from Belfast, who have been supported by Cancer Fund for Children. The Fletcher family are expected to join for the final kilometre into the stadium — home ground for Ulster supporters, and already gearing up for a busy 2026/27 matchday season.
The wider challenge
Day 1 starts Saturday 12 September in Derry/Londonderry to Limavady, with a breakfast send-off at the Ebrington Hotel sponsored by Alchemy Technology Services. The full trilogy finishes in Cong, Co Mayo on Sunday 20 September 2026.
Headline sponsor is Arachas Corporate Brokers (partner since 2021). Kingsbridge Private Hospital Group is a supporting sponsor; Martin Shields from Antrim is among the walkers, with six colleagues in relay teams.
Best has said he is proud to lead the challenges again and is looking forward to the Down and Antrim stretch, with families facing childhood cancer as the motivation — and emotion around seeing Daisy Lodge Cong near completion. Cancer Fund for Children CEO Phil Alexander has pointed to Best’s five-year fundraising legacy and the all-island need the new Cong centre will meet. Arachas CEO Joey Wynne has urged people in Down, Antrim and across the island to get behind the walk as it passes the firm’s office locations.
How to help
Donate or follow the campaign at rorysmiles2mayo.cancerfundforchildren.com. More on the charity at cancerfundforchildren.com.
Sister site Love Dublin has the all-island trilogy read — including the Aviva-to-Cong history — here.
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