23/06/2026
Tallaght to Tokyo: Two 70 Something Motorcycle Veterans Embark on Epic 22,000km Motorcycle Journey for Pieta
TALLAGHT, DUBLIN – [18/06/26] — Age is just a number, and 22,000 kilometres is just the next challenge. On June 29th, lifelong friends and veteran motorcyclists Merv and Nick will rev their engines and depart from Tallaght on an extraordinary transcontinental expedition to Tokyo, Japan—all in aid of Pieta House.
The gruelling journey will see the two riders traverse over two continents and 20 countries over four months. Swapping luxury for raw adventure, Merv and Nick will be entirely self-sufficient, carrying all their camping gear, cooking equipment, and clothes on their Kove 800X motorcycles. They aim to officially land on Japanese soil this October.
This ambitious trek is the culmination of two years of meticulous planning. The demanding route will take them through France, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey, Armenia, Georgia, Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Mongolia, China, and South Korea, before finally reaching Japan.
While the terrain would be daunting for riders half their age, Merv and Nick are uniquely qualified. Both in their 70s, they are avid motorbike enthusiasts with a lifetime of extreme off-road racing experience, including Nick competing in the legendary Paris-Dakar Rally.
Speaking about the motivation behind the expedition, Nick Craigie said:
"This isn't a five-star holiday; it's a test of endurance for a cause that is incredibly close to our hearts. Pieta does life-saving work for thousands of people when life gets too heavy to handle. If our journey can raise vital funds and awareness for mental health, every single kilometre on those dirt tracks will be worth it."
Every cent raised through this expedition will go directly to supporting Pieta's free, therapeutic services for those in suicidal distress, engaging in self-harm, or bereaved by su***de.
https://www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/t2t
