Walking across America ‘because I can’
Athenry man taking on 4,500km challenge
A FORMER rugby player from Athenry has kickstarted his journey to become the first person with a spinal injury to walk across America.
Eight years after receiving a devastating diagnosis that he would unlikely be able to walk again, Fergus Farrell took the first steps of a 75-day challenge to walk from Brooklyn Bridge in New York to the Santa Monica Pier in California on Sunday (August 23).
Father of three, Fergus can be described as a thick and stubborn man when it comes to proving the strength of persistence. He ignored every prognosis given to him after a spinal cord injury left him initially paralysed from the belly button down.
He went on to successfully complete a 206km walk across Ireland just 12 months after the accident. In July 2021, he rowed seven marathons in seven days on a rowing machine in the District Health and Fitness Gym in Athenry.
The list of his adventures goes on and the next addition is a cross-country trek of 4,500 kilometres across the United States of America.
Organised in partnership with Spinal Injuries Ireland and the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, the challenge is also aimed at raising €1 million for spinal injury care and to inspire communities around the world.
“I walk across America for a simple reason, because I can,” said Fergus, at an event hosted for him by the Irish Consulate of New York.
“There are so many people out there who because of illness, disease, age, physical or mental capabilities that can’t.
“But I can, and I want to, and I hope that the community can follow me on this journey every step of the way,” he added.
He further said that relationships are what bind us in this world and it’s something that we take for granted because they exist, just like our body parts that we take for granted because they work.
“Look after them, because they can be taken away. Just like it was for me. Be appreciative of everything you have, because it’s a privilege,” he advised.
The challenge ‘Fergus Walks’ has also received appreciation from the President of Ireland Catherine Connolly.
She called the charity walk a “remarkable undertaking” which reflects “exceptional determination, commitment and strength”.
“This walk is about far more than the miles ahead. It is about raising awareness of spinal cord injury, inspiring others, and showing what determination, resilience and hope can achieve,” added Fiona Bolger, CEO of Spinal Injuries Ireland.
Fergus started the journey surrounded by his family, community, supporters and well-wishers.