A top Irish entrepreneur has invited Irish American business leaders to lace up their hiking boots and join a unique mountain marathon which will visit every county in Ireland this summer.
But Irish tech guru Roger Johnson, who has just snared a $10m investment from New York State for the latest tech start-up under his charge, advises any executive taking on the '26 Mountains 2 Mayo' challenge to prepare for a taxing - in more ways than one - ordeal.
A great turnout today for Rory Best as he passed through Toomevara village on his walk for Cancer Fund for Children Ireland.
Rory is walking 300km to raise €2,000,000 for Cancer Fund for Children Ireland.
Well done to all 👏👏@RTE2fm @RoryBest2 @CancerFundChild pic.twitter.com/QX0vedIiJi
— Toomevara GAA (@ToomeGAA) May 20, 2023
For over nine days in June, the participants, all of whom must pledge to raise $50,000, will climb the highest mountain in all 32 of Ireland's counties - the equivalent of 1.5 Everest climbs.
Funds raised from the challenge will go towards a new Cancer Fund for Children centre in Cong, Co Mayo, which will provide therapeutic short breaks to help families reconnect and focus on spending time together. A similar facility, in which Cancer Fund Ireland, provides individual support, group support and residential programs already exists in Newcastle, Co Down. 
Irish rugby legend Rory Best, who completed the mountain trek last year, has urged CEOs and business founders to join this year's courageous cohort. "As someone who has had the privilege of walking alongside incredible people during the Miles to Mayo journey, I’m humbled to see the baton being picked up once again for such a vital cause," he said. "The Mountains to Mayo campaign is more than just a challenge — it’s a lifeline for children and families battling the toughest fight of their lives. Ensuing they can be treated like the stars they are."
Johnston (below) says he decided to mobilise the business community across Ireland in order to raise millions of euro rather than tens of thousands for the Cancer Fund For Children charity.
"So we've asked each of the hikers to raise a minimum of 50,000 euros," he said. "With 35 already signed up, hopefully we're going to raise a significant amount. On the island of Ireland, outside of the amazing children's hospitals, we don't have the care infrastructure that's government-funded to provide the post-hospital care. That's where Cancer Fund For Children come in. They provide care to children across all 32 counties through their Daisy Lodge model, the first one being in Newcastle, Co. Down. They can provide respite care for children and their families who are going through the horrors of cancer. We need around €20m to build the new center in Mayo and then, of course, to operate it so that every child in Ireland doesn't need to go through cancer alone."
Irish serial entrepreneur Roger Johnston is inviting Irish American CEOs to join a marathon mountain trek across Ireland to help @CancerFundChild - full story online. @Axial_3D pic.twitter.com/HifjMqZ4WA
— Irish Echo Newspaper (@IrishEcho) February 2, 2025
Johnston says already signed up for the gruelling march across Ireland are some of the country's business head honchos. But he stresses the door is open for more hikers from America - and for donations from Irish Americans. Full details at the website for 26 Mountains To Mayo.
