Army group to cycle Malin to Mizen distance in Athlone shopping centre

A Defence Forces group is planning to cycle the distance from Malin Head to Mizen Head in an Athlone shopping centre this week.

The event taking place in the Golden Island Shopping Centre this Thursday, July 3, has been organised by Athlone resident Jimmy Scott as a fundraiser for Visison Ireland.

Jimmy, who is registered blind due to injuries sustained in an accident in 1989, works as a switchboard operator in Custume Barracks.

Over the years the Roslevin Lawn resident has been a regular fundraiser for Vision Ireland, also known as the the National Council for the Blind Ireland (NCBI).

On Thursday, a group of Jimmy's Army colleagues from Custume Barracks will cycle on exercise bikes from 10am to 4pm in the Golden Island Shopping Centre, during which time they're aiming to clock up a distance equal to that from Malin Head in Donegal to Mizen Head in Cork.

Jimmy said had no specific fundraising target in mind for the event - he is simply hoping to generate as much as possible to support the work being done by Vision Ireland.

He said support from the public on the day would be most welcome.