Cork woman raises more than €11.5k for Irish Kidney Association with Paris to Nice cycle

A community mental health nurse who overcame breast cancer returned from France at the weekend after completing a self-funded, 750km charity cycle over six days from Paris to Nice.

Ber Downey, who lives in Clonakilty, undertook this journey to raise awareness around organ donation, particularly the living kidney donor programme, with all funds raised going to the Irish Kidney Association (IKA).

Ber’s motivation in undertaking the cycle was to support her close friend, Fiona O’Donnell, who has returned to dialysis since January this year after her first kidney transplant, received seven years ago from another close friend, Grainne O’Keeffe, eventually, failed.

Ber raised over €11,500 for the IKA, the charity that has been a lifeline for her friend Fiona and other kidney patients in Ireland.

Her journey began with a series of travel setbacks including her outwards flight from Cork to Paris being grounded due to technical issues, leading to an unscheduled trip to Dublin to catch an early morning flight the next morning instead.

On the third day, Ber awoke feeling unwell with a sore throat. Her autoimmune arthritis had flared up, but despite these challenges, Ber described how the support from her fellow cyclists was “overwhelming”.

After a quiet evening to recover, Ber’s immune system remained weakened, but she was determined to complete the event.

As she reached the Promenade des Anglais in Nice on the final day, the cyclists were greeted by a rousing reception from a large group of supporters who had gathered to cheer them on.

“Some of us, including myself, were filled with joy while remembering loved ones who had passed away — wishing they could have witnessed our accomplishment,” Ber said.

“At the same time, we were reflecting on the long journey we had prepared for, hoping we had done justice to the charities we represented and honoured the support of those who stood by us.”

“When I crossed that finish line, it was a huge sense of relief and pride. It had been such a physical and personal challenge but knowing I did it for my friend Fiona and others facing kidney disease and organ failure made it all worthwhile,” she said.

Ber's fundraiser can be found here.