I started my Route 66 journey back in 2004, the year after my Grandson, Jack Brady Moriarty, was born. Jack was born with a very rare Genetic Disorder, called Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome and Jack was spending a lot of time in Temple St Children Hospital.

So in order to raise funds for Temple St Hospital, I started to fundraise for the Route 66 Challenge which was taking place in 2006. Little did I know when I embarked on my first trip down the “ Mother Road “ that 17 years later, I would be still fundraising to take part in this unique Motorbike Challenge.

I have taken part in 2006 / 2008 / 2010 / 2012 / 2014 / 2016  / 2018 and was ready to go in 2020. But Covid 19 intervened and it was postponed until 2021, but as we all know Covid 19 did not go away and it was cancelled again.

I have now signed up again to take part in the 2022 Challenge in September of next year and I am looking for donations in aid of Temple St Children Hospital.

As in previous years, I will be covering all expenses for taken part in this Challenge, so all funds raised will go direct to the Hospital.

I was 60 years young when I took my first trip down Route 66. In 2012, when I was 66 I had the honour of leading the Group, along with my friend and fellow 66’er,  Jimmy Maher, who was also 66,  ( see photo above) on the last stage of the journey onto the Santa Monica Pier at the end of Route 66.

Jack, I am pleased to say, after all the trials and tribulations he has gone through, is a Very Happy and  Contented young man, with a very wicked sense of humour, he may not be able to speak or do any of the normal things that an 18 year old would do, but those eyes can tell a story, so if you are in his Bad Books, he will let you know.

Jack no longer attends Temple St Children’s Hospital , as he is a adult, But I grew up around the corner from the Hospital, so when I fell out of a  tree, or got spiked on the railings around Mountjoy Square Park, I was carted off to Temple St to be sewn up, so as a family we have. Long association with the Hospital.

The target for taking part is €10,000, but I am looking for lot of small donations to reach my target, the price of a “ Packet  of Cigarettes or a Pint of Guinness “ will go a long way to reaching my target. 

So I will ask you to share this page with your Friends, and your Friends to share with their Friends .

Thank you for taking the time to read this appeal.