David Cullen from Thurles contracted meningitis when he was nine mths old and thankfully recovered. However, at age twenty he began to gradually lose his hearing, which may or may not have been associated with his former illness.

Now thirty-one, David underwent a cochlear transplant four years ago to restore his hearing. He works as a tree surgeon but is also a keen cyclist and he and some friends cycled Mizen to Malin in an amazing time of just 21 hours to raise €1,110 for the LVR Cochlear Implant Programme at Beaumont Hospital. He is pictured here with his mother, Ann Marie, and Ruiz Aimi and Jackie Smith of the Cohlear Implant Programme. Thanks to David and friends for their support!