Gay O'Driscoll was recognised as an iron man among Kevin Heffernan's celebrated Dublin legends of the 1970s.
And the DNA has clearly passed down a generation to the three-time All-Ireland winning defender's nephew, Michael.
The younger O'Driscoll and friend Gavin Downes - both members of the famed St. Vincent's club in the city - will cycle and run a combined 888km this weekend in aid of the Irish Kidney Association.
Essentially, both men will run a marathon and cycle the equivalent of the journey from Killarney to Newry - all in the space of 26 hours.
And the twentysomething pair cite O'Driscoll's old Dublin team-mate, David Hickey, among their inspirations.
The late Anton O’Toole was as unequivocal as a Supreme Court judge in issuing a verdict on his fellow Hill 16 titan Hickey: “The greatest living Irishman of all.”
O’Toole’s thesis was constructed less on Hickey’s three All-Ireland medals, and more on his lifesaving work as an eminent transplant surgeon, the forcefield of his personality and the selflessness that is his famed calling card.
O’Driscoll, 23, and Downes, 25, met up with Hickey on the eve of embarking on their hugely ambitious challenge - each cycling 400km and running 44km in four six-hour blocks from early Friday to late Saturday.
Their goals are to create awareness of the urgent need for organ donors, raise funds for the Irish Kidney Association and highlight the critical importance of exercise in promoting physical good health.
And their ambitions were underscored when they met the inspirational Hickey last week.
Hickey continues to do his vital work despite his own health battles with three major cancer operations in the last 12 years.
“The last one has left me how I am. I spent three months in hospital. I lost the floor of my mouth and I haven’t been able to eat since," says Hickey.
“I haven’t eaten in two and a half years. I’m on a liquid diet. Strawberry, vanilla or chocolate.”
O’Driscoll, a strength, conditioning and fitness coach at Gravity Fitness, says: “David is a remarkable man. It was humbling to meet him for an informal chat. And it added to our determination to make this a success.
“Our conversation with him highlighted the fact that by signing up for an organ donation you can literally save a life. You can give people the gift of hope.”
O’Driscoll and Downes, a school-teacher at Holy Trinity SMS in Donaghmede, will begin their exhausting 38 hour challenge at 6am on Friday morning, hopefully concluding around 7.30 on Saturday night.
“Each event will start and finish at my house in Clontarf. We will be out and back to Howth, 12 hours a day, with just an hour to 90 minute break between the two daily blocks of work.
“We have been thrilled by the reaction so far. We set ourselves an initial target of €2,000, but we have more than doubled that. People have been incredibly generous," says O'Driscoll.
Those wishing to donate can do so HERE.
