An Armagh man – now living in Sydney – completed one of the world’s toughest endurance events in memory of his close friend – and raised an incredible £10,274 for charity.
Daniel Rafferty (36), originally from Armagh city, took on the Ironman Emilia Romagna in Italy earlier this month, a gruelling test of stamina involving a 3.8km swim, a 180km bike ride and a full marathon of 42.2km.
He dedicated every mile to his late friend, Ryan Nugent, from Moy, who tragically died in a road traffic collision in Australia in 2018 at the age of 27.
Speaking ahead of the challenge, Daniel said he had been “carrying Ryan’s memory with me in everything I do and everywhere I go” and wanted to honour him by supporting the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust (KBRT) – the charity which helped bring Ryan home to his family.
“Ryan lived his life to the fullest and I wanted to honour him by dedicating this race to him,” Daniel said. “Every step was a tribute to his vibrant spirit, a reminder of the joy he brought into my life.”
Friends, family, and the wider community rallied behind Daniel’s fundraising efforts, with donations in excess of £10,000 pouring in from across Ireland and Australia.
A spokesperson for KBRT thanked Daniel for his remarkable effort, describing the funds raised as “a fantastic tribute to Ryan” that will help countless families in the future.
