Pedal power nets funding boost for Mayo Cancer Support

A local cycling club pedalled a phenomenal cumulative distance of 24,045.17 kilometres as part of a novel Lenten challenge that netted a generous €500 donation for Mayo Cancer Support.

The members of Turlough Wheelers Cycling Club endured more than their fair share of inclement weather conditions throughout the duration of the challenge, which saw cyclists form into teams and compete against each other to cycle the greatest cumulative distance.

Each participant paid a fee to take part and the winning team got to choose a charity to benefit from the total proceeds of the event.

The overall aim of the challenge was to encourage people who had not been cycling for a while to get back out on their bicycles. It served its purpose and the pink colours of the Turlough Wheelers Cycling Club were out in abundance on the roads around Castlebar throughout Lent.

The Pink Cycopaths team ultimately topped the board at the end of the challenge, with the seven members – Fiona Kelly, Connie Durcan, Sarah Durcan, Carmel Connaughton, Paul Kilcourse, Kevin O’Hora and Elish Power – cycling a total distance of 4,534.5km.

The team was thrilled to be able to donate the event proceeds to Mayo Cancer Support – a local registered charity that provides free emotional support to anyone affected by a cancer diagnosis or bereavement.

The charity’s fundraising and communications officer, Orla Gillespie, thanked Turlough Wheelers and The Pink Cycopaths team for their generous donation.

She said: “Voluntary, community-based charity initiatives like this are crucial to the operation of Mayo Cancer Support. We are dependent on fundraising to cover up to 90% of our annual operating costs, which currently run to approximately €210,000.”

For more information on the charity and its services, see www.mayocancersupport.ie.