Cyclists take on epic 1,600km Ultra Cycling Challenge to help NW Simon

On Thursday June 14, a group of like-minded cyclists are under taking the enormous challenge to cycle 1,600km from England's most southerly point “Lands End” to Scotland’s most northerly point “John O Groats” from start to finish, all within four days.

Whilst doing this tough four day, 1,600km ultra cycling challenge, they are using the opportunity to raise some much needed funds for Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin, the North West Simon Community and Western Care and the entire event is self-financed by all the cyclists and all of the proceeds collected will go directly to the three deserving charities.

Cyclists completing the challenge are Gary Smyth & Gary Bigley (Kiltimagh), Colm Carney (Bohola), Pat Murtagh (Tubbercurry), Jonathan Verry (Crossmolina), Gerry Boots (Armagh & London) and Alan Heaney, (Killasser)

Over the past two months, they have spent extensive hours cycling the roads of Mayo, Galway & Sligo getting long miles in, most of it in the wind and rain, they experienced this spring of 2018!

Typical training sessions entail 200 km early morning spins, starting at 4am from Swinford and returning back by midday. They do this at least twice per week to condition the bodies and build up miles in the legs. While they are in pretty good shape physically, this 1,600km cycling challenge will take its toll, not just on the body but on the mind.

It is really a psychological challenge and they hope they can handle the mental challenges this journey presents.

The guys have set up an online fundraising page, so please spread the word, share on Facebook, Twitter etc. as any small contribution will be kindly appreciated. Anyone who would like to donate to this worthy cause, please use this link. You can also follow them on Facebook.

At this moment, they would like to take the opportunity to thank all who have donated to date, their wives & families for their support, their fellow cyclists and last but not least the support team - Martin Conlon (Bohola), Martin Conlon (London), Ryan Prendergast (Swinford) and Brendan Doyle (Swinford) who will be at their beck and call for the whole 1,600km journey. They heavily depend on their support team, as completion of this tough task, depends on everything running with military precision.

Please support these seven brave cyclists doing their bit for the community and fundraising for Crumlin Hospital, NW Simon Community and Western Care by donating on the gofundme page above – every little helps.