Pedalling for Purpose: From Galway to the Arctic Circle

A cyclist wearing an Irish Cancer Society T‑shirt and helmet stands outdoors holding a turquoise bike with packed bags, with volcanic terrain, ocean, and distant mountains behind them under a clear blue sky.

DCU Computer Science student and Orwell Wheelers cyclist Ilie Gabuja turns epic challenges into engines for change. His journey began in 2025 with a 400km cycle from Dublin to Galway, raising funds for the SBHI Open Opportunities Service that supports his brother, Anatolie.

Eight people pose in front of a white van branded ‘Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Ireland,’ including two individuals in wheelchairs, with a building and trees visible behind them.

SBHI service in Dublin

Driven to do more, he then embarked on a monumental solo ride from the SBHI service in Dublin to the North of Norway. This Arctic-scale effort underscored his deep commitment to disability inclusion.

Not stopping there, Ilie followed this with a solo winter cycling expedition across the Canary Islands to support the Irish Cancer Society. For Ilie, the bicycle is a vehicle for change transforming personal endurance into powerful support for vital community services and research, demonstrating remarkable consistency in his civic engagement.

A cyclist wearing a yellow shirt and helmet stands with their bike in front of a large green sign shaped from plants that reads ‘Las Palmas de Gran Canaria,’ with palm trees and tall modern buildings in the background.

DCU President's Awards for Engagement 2026