An Irish comedian is set to walk over 240km to raise awareness for homelessness this Christmas.
Multi-talented Francis Cronin has embarked on ‘Rough Set Ireland’, an extreme survival walk to raise money for the Simon Community.
Francis, who is also an actor, ex-UN Quick Reaction Forces soldier and ambassador to Homeless Healthcare Los Angeles, started his trek across the country on December 18 and finishes up on Christmas Day.
In last year’s Rough Set, Francis walked over 500 miles, unaccompanied, no tent, from San Francisco to LA, performing stand-up comedy & storytelling with celebrities along the way, relying on his wits and the kindness of strangers to survive.
Last year Francis shared his story live in real time as he battled the elements, was stalked by mountain lions, fought off hypothermia and nearly lost an eye.
This year for Rough Set Ireland Francis has teamed up with the Simon Community and will walk from the west to east coast of Ireland, sleeping in doorways and under trucks, while performing stand-up comedy and storytelling along the way.
Some of the biggest names in Irish entertainment are already on board with the Simon Community - Bono, Glen Hansard, Joe Rooney, Owen Colgan and Karl Spain.
Money raised during the campaign will go directly to help fund much-needed homelessness services from the Simon Communities of Ireland, as the number of men, women and children in emergency accommodation reaches record highs this winter.
The public are invited to track Francis’s real time movements via satellite as he traverses Ireland, walk with him during the day and attend star-studded comedy shows each night.
The young Irish comedian aims to rendezvous with U2’s Bono and Glen Hansard on Grafton Street on Christmas Eve for their annual busk, before finishing his journey with a freezing cold Xmas morning dip, accompanied by thousands of people at the 40ft in Sandycove, south Dublin.
