Cyclists set to raise funds for Kilbarrack programme

OVER two days in early June, 17 people completed a 140-kilometre cycle from Dublin to Wexford to raise money for the Kilbarrack Coast Community Programme (KCCP) to provide child play therapy and a dedicated children’s summer project. 

Twelve of the cyclists came from London – George Stuart, Tom Walker, Tom Robinson, Tom Longden, Dave Fairfax, Clare Matheson, Dave Entwiste, Sally Jaquet, Duncan Wright, James Lawrence, Suzie Alavi and Lorcan Byrne. 

They were joined by five from Dublin – Steve Ray, Kevin Pierce, Ashling Costello, Elaine Donnellan and Nicholas O’Brien. 

The support team comprised Ann Marie O’Brien, Jenny Byrne and Declan Byrne. Each of the cyclists received the Lord Mayor of Dublin’s scroll in recognition of their efforts. Congratulations to all involved.

Now two of this group (Nicholas O’Brien and Lorcan Byrne) have decided to cycle the length of Africa, over 12,000 kilometres (roughly 170 kilometres per day) to raise funds for KCCP and for Orphanage Orlindi in Namibia. 

They will travel through 10 countries: Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia and South Africa. 

Nicholas O’Brien and Lorcan Byrne will set out on their cycling adventure on January 6, 2019. It is expected that their trip will take between five and six months to complete and they are doing this in order to raise money for two charities.

• Kilbarrack Coast Community Programme (KCCP)

The second heroin epidemic affected all disadvantaged areas in Dublin in the early 1990s. In Kilbarrack local community activists joined forces with the statutory agencies to try and tackle the problem. 

FAS (now the Department of Social Protection) played a leading role in helping drug mis-users, their families and the community by funding ‘special status’ (drugs rehabilitation) Community Employment programmes. The programme started in July 1997 and year on year the services have been expanded (with the help of the Health Services Executive) and now includes drugs and alcohol rehabilitation, the Reach-Out Project (which helps young people with cannabis issues), Youth Matters (providing a range of youth services), Community Counselling, Family Support, Parent and Toddler and much more. See www.kccp.ie 

• Orphanage Orlindi (Namibia)

Known as the ‘place of safety’ Orphanage Orlindi was established in 1995 by Claudia Namises. 

Currently there are between 28 and 35 children up to the age of 18 living in the house. The Orlindi House of Safety attends to the problems of disadvantaged girls and boys. 

The children’s hostel defines itself as a temporary home with a familiar atmosphere. At the same time, great emphasis is put on nutrition, hygiene and education. 

The focus is also put on scholastic support as well as useful recreational activities. There are two house mothers in the hostel. It is the aim of Orlindi hostel, to prepare the children for their future life, to procure them a place in a surrogate family and to help them find a way into normal life again. If you wish to donate you can do so through www.gofundme.com/WhenWeGoSouth