Cycling for a wheelie great cause

18 cyclists are gearing up to cycle from Malin Head to Mizen Head in four days.

The team of 18 cyclists from Clonakilty Cycling Club will cycle a mammoth 616km challenge to raise funds for the Irish Community Air Ambulance from 29 April-2 May. Preparations are well underway for the event with club training sessions now taking place four times a week. A support team will be on hand throughout the cycle with distances ranging from 141km to 172km each day.

Anthony O’Donovan, Chairperson of Clonakilty Cycling Club said: “Malin to Mizen is on the bucket list for most cyclists but it’s essential to put the miles in on the saddle first. Our team is made up of cyclists of all ages and abilities, they have been training consistently for months. Cycling can be a dangerous sport, when it goes wrong it can go catastrophically wrong.

“As a rural club, we cycle the highways and byways of West Cork and it’s likely the Irish Community Air Ambulance would be called if any of us ended up in a serious accident. We all know of someone who has benefited from a speedy transit to hospital by means of the Air Ambulance. We’re equally conscious of just how much it costs to provide such an important service.”

The Irish Community Air Ambulance is Ireland’s only charity-funded helicopter emergency medical service air ambulance and responds to serious incidents and medical emergencies.

Clonakilty Cycling Club has set up an online donation page ahead of the event at idonate.ie.