Conor Cycles Home from Hospital: Why Conor is pedalling over 300 miles to give thanks

Pictured above at the Mater Hospital

Conor Keeling (right) with Prof. Sean Gaine (left) of the National Pulmonary Hypertension Unit, and Ciara McCormack, Project Director of PHA Ireland.

Travelling from Cambridge to Dublin is no short journey, but Conor Keeling (a retired Aer Lingus Transatlantic Pilot) is determined to complete it on just two wheels to say thank you for his PH care. Here, he explains why…

“I am a very lucky man. In summer 2022, I suddenly found myself suffering with fatigue, breathlessness at any exertion, and unable to climb a single set of stairs.

I was diagnosed with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) and lost medical clearance for my career as a pilot, meaning I had to retire as a transatlantic captain.

Just over a year ago, on 7th March 2024, I had pulmonary endarterectomy surgery at Royal Papworth Hospital in Cambridge to clear the clots from my pulmonary arteries. It is extremely complex surgery, and the surgeons and nursing staff were wonderful.

After a number of complications, and with the care of my medical teams and my wife, I am now back doing everything I enjoy.

As a way of saying thank you, and to raise awareness of pulmonary hypertension, I am cycling from the hospital which saved my life to my home in Malahide, Co. Dublin. It’s 520km (320 miles) and will take a number of days, with the aim of arriving home on World Pulmonary Hypertension Day – May 5th.

Thank you for reading my story, and always remember that life is for living, to the best of your ability.”

Conor is raising money for the PHA UK and PHA Ireland through his challenge. You can sponsor him in support of PHA Ireland by hitting the link below