Members of the Lecarrow Lazers Cycle Club will cycle from Mizen Head to Malin Head from September 16th to 19th in order to raise funds for the Darragh Kenny Memorial Fund, CROÍ, and the Lough Ree Access For All Boat.
A son of Liam and Fidelma, Darragh Kenny, a native of Gort, Lecarrow, was just 28-years-old when he passed away suddenly in 2013 and each year local organisers have staged a memorial cycle in his honour. People from all over the country have taken part in the annual event and so far over €90,000 has been raised for CROÍ, the heart and stroke charity.
These funds have helped the organisation to provide support services and free accommodation in the Courtyard Apartments for the families of those receiving heart or stroke care at Galway University Hospital and a plaque in Darragh’s memory is displayed at the apartments.
The Darragh Kenny Memorial Cycle was cancelled this year due to Covid-19 restrictions but members of the Lecarrow Lazers, a club which is involved in the organisation of the event each year, have decided to raise funds while fulfilling their own personal goals of cycling from Ireland’s most southern point to its most northern.
The cyclists have chosen CROÍ due to its close link to the Kenny family and the annual cycle in memory of Darragh and also the Lough Ree ‘Access For All’ boat, which will be used to enable wheelchair users to experience waterways in Roscommon and further afield.
CROÍ have recently established a new free community support service across Ireland, Heartlink West. Funds raised from this cycle will support this dedicated helpline, led by the charity’s highly experienced cardiac nurse specialists with considerable expertise in risk factor management and cardiovascular care. The cycle is being self-funded by each of the cyclists and all money raised will go directly to these two deserving causes.
A number of social media pages have been set up to keep the public up to date (search Darragh Kenny Memorial Fund) across Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and donations can be made online through the iDonate page: http://www.idonate.ie/DarraghKennyMemorialFund.
The cyclists for this event are John Dolan, Mary Lennon, David Ingram, Declan O’Rourke, John Brennan, Marie Brennan, Brian Duffy, Michael O’Connor, Noel Galvin, Wilker Costa and Padraig Hanley. The cyclists are being supported by Brendan Donnelly as support driver.
The project team is active seeking your help and assistance. They are seeking sponsors for the various stages of the cycle and would appreciate all offers of help or support. If you can assist please email:darraghkennymemorialfund2020@gmail.com or call Dylan or Lisa at 043-3321734.
