Northsiders saddle up for cycle to Africa

A GROUP of ambitious
crusaders are hoping to cycle from Dublin to Africa in a bid to raise funds for
charity.

Ian Finlay (27), originally
from Artane and now living in Glasnevin, said his newfound awareness of mental
health has been the driving force behind the cycle.

“I wasn’t aware of how bad
mental health in Ireland was until at least four years ago,

? Ian told Northside
People.

“One of my friends suffered
with really bad depression and it later came out that he was bi-polar.

?

Ian and three friends,
Lorcan Fields (28) from Artane, John Doherty (29) from Derry and Andrew
Gillepsie (28) from Donegal, will be meeting up at the GPO in Dublin on
September 10.

Pyrenees

The group will embark on a
three-week cycle across Wales and England, down through France and Spain. They
will then cycle across the Pyrenees before venturing to Tangier in Africa.

Ian said they have been
training very hard.

“We recently notched up
5,000km by cycling through Dublin alone,

? he stated.

“We’ve been involved in a
lot of training work and we have to be really fit before the cycle begins.

?

Ian said travel expenses
will be financed independently because the team want all funds raised to go to
charity.

He said the focus charity is
Aware, which aims to support people with mental health issues.

“Although we’re all pretty
fit, none of us have much experience with long distance cycling, so it’s going
to be one serious challenge,

? he said.

“We have had companies
sponsoring us, and Kellogg’s have donated high-protein cereal bars and muesli
to keep us going.

?

‘Wheelworx’, a bicycle shop
in Dublin have provided servicing for the bikes free of charge.

Ian said they are hoping to
do Ireland proud.

“This trip will be gruelling
but we have a lot of support from people,

? he said.

“Aware have also signalled
their support by providing us with literature on mental health to ensure word
is spread.

“We’re hoping that this trip
will help remove the stigma associated with depression and make people realise
that they don’t have to suffer alone.

?

John Doherty, a Garda
stationed at Store Street, said the team have been training non-stop over the
past couple of months.

“We will be paying all our
costs ourselves from the campsite charges to the petrol bill and ferry fees,

?
he stated.

“Anything donated will go to the charity directly.”

Support

Ian said that since the
cycling campaign began, hundreds of people have come out in support.

He said some people have
shared personal experiences of their battles with depression.

“The trip will be a voice
for people,

? he added.

“It’ll signal that it’s
alright to talk about mental health issues.

?

The group will have a
support lorry and a mechanic on hand in case anything goes wrong.

The cyclists, when they are
not cycling, will eat and sleep in the truck. They are hoping to raise e10,000
for Aware.

To support the cyclists,
visit www.fromheretotangier.com or visit facebook.com/fromheretotangier