Three members of The Hardy Bucks set to embark on epic charity journey on foot across Ireland

Instead of drinkin’, shmokin’ and fightin’, they’ll be walking, jogging and running.

Three members of The Hardy Bucks, a TV series based in the west of Ireland which attracted a significant cult following in recent years - and has just been released on Netflix worldwide - will embark on an epic journey across Ireland for charity later this year. On 19 April, Cowboy Lavin (Stephen Kelly), French Toast or ‘Toashteen’ (Peter Cassidy), Salmon (Michael Salmon) and friends will begin a three-day fundraising challenge to cover the 240 kilometres distance from Beaumont Hospital, Dublin to Castlebar in Mayo to raise funds for the Richmond Intensive Care Unit and St Raphael’s children’s ward in Beaumont Hospital. Comedian and Swinford native Stephen Kelly (below, right) decided to take on the challenge following his own near-death experience in 2016, when he collapsed while at home with friends. He was taken to Mayo General Hospital, where it was discovered that that he had a bleed on the brain and he was rushed by ambulance to the National Neurosurgical Centre in Beaumont Hospital. Stephen underwent emergency surgery on arrival and spent a week in intensive care before being released back to Mayo to finish his recovery. “I was as near as dead as you can be when I arrived at Beaumont Hospital and always said I would do something to thank them for saving my life," Kelly says. “So, I am taking on this challenge with Peter Cassidy (French Toast), and some well-known faces will be joining me along the way. The more people that know about Beaumont Hospital Foundation, the greater their impact, so I am hopeful that this challenge will help raise funds and awareness.” Local communities in Mayo and Dublin are supporting Stephen and his friends and there will be several gigs and events in the lead up to the challenge. You can support Stephen by donating to the cause on EveryDayHero and can follow the build-up to the challenge on Facebook. Main image via Facebook/3 Bucks Left