From Kilkenny to The Gambia: A father-son odyssey of remembrance

Father and son Noel and Max Lavelle of Galmoy, Kilkenny, are currently taking part in a fundraising motor event called the Dakar Challenge. They are making the 6,000 kilometre journey to raise funds for local charities and communities in the Republic of the Gambia in honour of their late loved ones — Noel’s mother Anne, his aunt May, and his uncle, Sean Lacey.

The Dakar Challenge was first established in 2002. It borrows its name from the annual Dakar Rally, which previously took place in West Africa between 1979 and 2007. While the challenge does pass through its namesake region, its ultimate destination is the Banjul, in the Republic of The Gambia.

The car that Noel and Max are travelling in is a 2003 Lexus — an ‘old banger’, as per the rules of the challenge. It had previously belonged to Noel’s aforementioned uncle Sean. According to Noel’s daughter Nonie, Sean was well aware that his nephew had his eye on the Lexus for years: “Dad knows a good car when he sees one; he has always loved cars and previously owned a garage”, she said.

Shortly before his passing in 2021, Sean generously gifted the car to Noel. It was a bittersweet moment for him.
There has always been a special bond between Noel and Max over their shared love of cars, and they are the only team from Ireland to participate this year. The journey will take 21 days in total to travel from Galmoy, Kilkenny to Banjul, The Gambia, with the pair setting out on Friday, January 10. They arrived in Morocco on Thursday, January 16, and experienced a minor hiccup when they realized that their passports had been misplaced. Thankfully, they were able to locate their passports and as of Monday, January 20, they are back on the road.

Noel and Max should be reaching the finish line sometime between the end of January and the start of February. It will take a week for them to drive through the African desert, where father and son will be camping at night to get some well-deserved rest. It is the only aspect of the journey about which the pair are nervous.

Upon their arrival in The Gambia, the Lexus will be auctioned off, with the proceeds being donated directly to local charities in The Gambia. The Rotary Club of Banjul will distribute the funds to a variety of local charities, including Bijilo School, Sight Box for Blind Children, Bakoteh School, and Legs for Africa.

Additional funds donated through the pair's fundraiser will go towards supporting local communities of The Gambia. A GoFundMe organized by Max has been well-received in their local community.

“This journey is about so much more than travel — it’s about giving back and keeping the memories of Sean, Nana and May alive through acts of kindess and generosity”, he wrote online. As of Tuesday, January 21, the fundraiser has raised €3,760 of a €10,000 goal.