A LIMERICK man who was told he would never cycle again after a life-changing spinal injury is gearing up to take on one of Ireland’s toughest charity bike events.
Conor O’Dea was seriously injured in a cycling accident in 2017 but this week, he is preparing to take part in the Tour de Munster, a four-day, 640km charity cycle through all six counties of Munster.
Alongside his carer Paula and a custom-built trike, Conor is taking on the challenge to raise funds for Down Syndrome Ireland.
“They told me I wouldn’t cycle again, but that was never going to be the end of the story,” Conor said. “Life didn’t end. It just changed.”
Conor has taken part both before and after his injury and says the event, kicking off this Thursday, holds deep personal meaning for him.
“After the accident, getting back on the road with a trike and feeling the wind in my face, it was nearly emotional,” he recalls.
“Tour de Munster was always a goal for me. The camaraderie, the people, the welcome in every town, it’s a family.”
Since his injury, Conor has raised close to €200,000 for charities including Spinal Injuries Ireland, Millimetre 2 Mountains, Challenged Athletes Foundation, Greenmount Cycling Academy, Down Syndrome Limerick, and the Tour de Munster Charitable Foundation.
Joining him on the tour this year will be his care team, headed by Paula O’Keeffe of Bluebird Care Limerick, who first met Conor at the National Rehabilitation Hospital.
“He was lying in a hospital bed saying, ‘I’m going to get out of this bed. I’m going to walk.’ And I just thought, okay, let’s try,” Paula recalls.
Paula herself hadn’t cycled a bike in 15 years, but after meeting Conor, she signed up for her first triathlon.
“He even inspired me to do that,” she laughs. “We push each other on. I get just as much out of it as he does.”
Conor says their teamwork is what makes this year’s tour so meaningful.
“We’ve trained together, laughed through the tough days, and now we’ll ride together. That means a lot,” the unstoppable Limerick man said.
Ellen Tuffy, committee member at Down Syndrome Limerick, said that “Conor is a beacon of hope and determination. His achievements, both physical and mental, are truly extraordinary. He embodies the powerful message that disability does not equate to inability, a belief we hold strongly at Down Syndrome Limerick.”
The Tour de Munster takes place from August 7-10. Those looking to support Conor on his journey can donate on idonate.ie/fundraiser/ConorODea54221.
