Circumnavigating Ireland by bike for Natasha Allergy Research Foundation
Donegal cyclist to circumnavigate Ireland by bike, solo and unsupported, to raise £30,400 for food allergy research
Endurance cyclist and cycling journalist Ronan Mc Laughlin, 38, from Donegal, is set to circumnavigate Ireland by bike, solo and unsupported, to raise awareness and funds for The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation, the UK’s food allergy charity.
He is taking on this challenge for his six-year-old daughter, who lives with multiple severe food allergies. For her, and for millions of others, food isn’t just fuel. It’s a daily risk, a constant worry, and an often invisible challenge.
Departing this Tuesday (10th June), Ronan’s journey will span some 3,040 kilometres heading for the eastern coast first through Belfast, Dublin, and on to Cork where he will join the 2,400 km TransAtlantic Way bikepacking event as the southern, western and north western coastal stages of his ride.
This gruelling multi-day effort, known as Traces of Ireland, is inspired by his six-year-old daughter, Sophia. Ronan will complete the entire ride while avoiding all foods that contain or may contain peanuts, tree nuts, sesame, lentils, and eggs. His goal is to raise £30,400 - £10 for every kilometre ridden - for research, training, and awareness around food allergies.
Every pound raised through the Traces of Ireland challenge can make a meaningful difference. Just £10 could provide a primary school with food allergy education resources, while £25 could train 50 teachers to better support allergic children. £100 covers the cost of a single child’s life-saving dose of treatment, and £1,500 funds six months of participation in the groundbreaking Natasha Clinical Trial. With a £30,400 target (£10 for every kilometre), this challenge has the potential to fund places for 20 children on this life-changing trial, bringing us one step closer to making allergy history.
“Food allergies are not a choice. They’re a serious, often life-threatening condition that shapes every aspect of daily life,” said Ronan. “This ride is about more than distance. It’s about raising awareness, challenging misconceptions, and showing how urgent the need is for better support, clearer labelling, and more research.”
Ronan’s daughter is one of the millions of children navigating life with food allergies, a condition that now affects one in ten children in the UK. Despite this, the world of sport, travel, and nutrition often overlooks the needs of this growing population.
This challenge will raise funds for The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation, launched in 2019 by Nadim and Tanya Ednan-Laperouse after their daughter Natasha tragically died from an allergic reaction to sesame.
Ronan said: “I am fund raising for the Natasha Allergy Research Foundation because it is the UK’s only charity dedicated to funding medical research into allergic disease, with the bold vision to make allergy history. Their mission goes beyond awareness, working to change laws and policies, educate society, and fund pioneering research to identify the causes of allergy and ultimately prevent and eradicate it. The Foundation gives a voice to the millions affected, especially children like my daughter, and is pushing for a world where living with food allergies no longer means living in fear.
A spokesperson from The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation said:
“We are incredibly grateful to Ronan for taking on this incredible challenge. Food allergies are a serious, unpredictable, and potentially fatal condition. They affect not just those diagnosed but their families, friends, and communities. With the support of fundraisers like Ronan, we are working to make allergy history.”
To support Ronan’s fundraiser or learn more about Traces of Ireland, click here.
To track Ronan's ride, click here
