John goes the distance for Croí a year after a string of heart attacks

 Just over a year ago, 66 years old John Behan from Carraroe suffered a string of heart attacks and had to be revived four times in five nights.

 But on Sunday last he was on his bike to lead more than 75 cyclists who were braving Connemara’s wildest elements to ride 205km in support of this true hero.

The aptly named ‘Hell of the West Coast’ Cycle Challenge was created by John Behan in order to raise funds for Croí, the heart and stroke charity. He is a renowned charity fundraiser and cyclist but this was by far the most relevant fundraising event of his life.

A little over a year ago things looked very different for the painter: after going into University Hospital Galway with a burning pain in his throat, he suffered numerous cardiac arrests and was resuscitated four times in five nights. His medical intervention included having five stents and a pacemaker defibrillator implanted.

“After learning from hospital staff that Croí had heavily fundraised to support the Cardiac Unit, I wanted to give something back,” he said on Sunday. “I owe my life to Croí and to the Cardiac team in Galway University Hospital, so I feel lucky to be able to organise this fundraiser”. 

John’s determination to make a full recovery was evident from the moment he was discharged from hospital. Within a few months, he had walked the equivalent of Mizen Head to Malin Head, a distance of approximately 400 miles which he once cycled in under 19 hours.

Over the years, he has raised over €100,000 for various charities through challenges such as cycling through the 32 counties (1020km) in under 32 hours and cycling the length of Great Britain (1500km) in under 54 hours. Once he was fit enough, John set his sights on his next challenge; to create a new cycle with the aim of raising €20,000 for Croí.

As with all of John’s challenges, local support for Sunday’s cycle played a big role, with sporting heroes David Collins, Seán Óg de Paor and Seán Ó Dómhnaill all taking part.  Riders had the option of a 40km, 100km or a 205km route which took them into the heart of Connemara.

Read more in today’s Connacht Tribune