Nine participants from Kingspan, including CEO Gene Murtagh, have completed the 600km Wild Mediterranean Way Cycle Challenge, raising over €65,000 for the Irish Hospice Foundation.

The group from the Kingscourt-based company joined over 50 other cyclists on the route from Canet-en Roussilon to Barcelona in a 6 day journey from Southern France into Northern Spain, including several gruelling climbs through the Pyrenees. 

Sports journalist and former professional cyclist Paul Kimmage led the cycle, which in total will raise over €120,000, for the IHF, enough to provide over 400 nights of free nursing care to affected families. 

Gene Murtagh, CEO of Kingspan said: “We’ve had an exhausting but uplifting experience, enjoying some beautiful scenery and the support of a fantastic organising team. Kingspan has sponsored this event since 2009, and we are delighted to be associated with the amazing work of the Irish Hospice Foundation.”

Sharon Foley, CEO of the IHF, said: “Each year the demand for our Nurses for Night Care Service grows – and we are determined to continue to support people so they can fulfil their wish to die at home. We receive no core state funding so the cycle is a hugely important fundraiser for us. We are grateful to our sponsors Kingspan for their continued support and to all the cyclists that have fundraised so hard for us this year.” 

Since the cycle challenge began in 2009, over €1m has been raised to support the work of the IHF.