Road to Recovery run returns for Portlaoise hospital

ALL roads will lead to Castletown on Sunday 22 February, when the eagerly awaited Road to Recovery run returns in aid of the Friends of Portlaoise Hospital.

Organisers are inviting the whole community to take part in a day of support and camaraderie, to help a cause that is very close to local people’s hearts.

Established by Mountrath man Toney Ryan and his family following his own health challenges, with the name Road to Recovery reflecting his personal journey through illness, treatment and recovery, the event has raised over €12,000 in its first three years.

The run attracts a wide range of vehicles from trucks and vans to jeeps, 4x4s, cars and vintage cars, bringing together vehicle enthusiasts of all kinds, as the community comes together to support a great cause.

Originally launched in aid of the St James’s Hospital skin cancer unit, the Road to Recovery run has grown from a personal initiative into a major annual fundraiser, drawing strong support from across Laois and beyond.

Last year, the Ryan family decided to bring the fundraiser closer to home by donating proceeds to the Friends of Portlaoise Hospital, helping improve care for patients.

The event raised a remarkable €6,800, helping the Friends to purchase life-saving equipment, including a breast pump for the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) and a McGrath Mac laryngoscope handle for use in theatre and the emergency department.

Registration will start from 12.30pm at Castletown ICA Hall, with the convoy departing at 2pm. They will travel through Mountrath and on to the motorway at Junction 18, exit at Junction 16, pass by Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise, continue through the town by the garda station and head out the Abbeyleix Road onto the motorway, before returning to Castletown ICA Hall for refreshments, an auction and a raffle.

Friends of Portlaoise Hospital treasurer Áine Reams said: ‘We are so grateful to Toney, Margaret, Niamh, Leon and Aaron for holding their Road Run in aid of the Friends again this year.

‘Without the support of people like the Ryan family, we wouldn’t be able to fulfil our mission of enhancing patient comforts at the hospital.’ 

Toney commented: ‘We are excited to launch another Road to Recovery road run. Over the past years we’ve had tremendous support, and we hope this year will be bigger and better than ever. We encourage everyone to take part, bring their vehicles, or cheer us on, all help makes a difference.’ 

Donations can be made on the run’s online idonate page titled Road to Recovery 2026.

https://www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/roadtorecovery2026