Athlone cyclists complete 840km charity trek to Lourdes

By Kevin O'Neill

A group of 16 cyclists from the Athlone area recently completed an 840-kilometre trek from north-central France to Lourdes, in the south-west, to raise money for the Rise & Shine Trust (formerly the Irish Pilgrimage Trust).

The event takes place every two years and involves approximately 100 cyclists from across Ireland, plus support teams, who take on the challenge to raise funds to bring children with additional needs to Lourdes at Easter.

This year, more than 600 children from around Ireland - along with assistants and medical carers - were taken to Lourdes for a week-long excursion.

Each cyclist must raise at least €3,000 for the cause (with 100 per cent of this going to the charity), while each cyclist pays their own way for flights, accommodation and food.

To this end, a representative of the local participants was keen to talk to the Westmeath Independent to express gratitude to the Athlone public for its support with the fundraising effort.

Cormac Nott, who was taking part in this cycle for the third time, said the trip would never be possible without the support of the Athlone people.

"The people of Athlone and its surrounding areas have been fantastic in helping us. The fact it takes place every two years always allows us a bit more planning time for fundraising, and every participant does it in their own way.

"We want to thank the public so much for its generosity," said Cormac, who also highlighted the efforts of fellow cyclist Carmel Naughton, who has been taking on the challenge since 1998.

The Keane family (Michael, Francis, Bridget and Francis's son-in-law Kevin 'Gooch' Murray) have been cycling for years in memory their late brother, Anthony, who used to cycle it for many years. Between them alone, they raised over €12,000 for this year's event.

Unfortunately, three local cyclists - Declan Walsh, Billy Nott and Joe Fallon - had to pull out at a late stage having raised funds for the charity.

The cycle started at the cathedral in Chartres with a blessing from the Bishop of Chartres before the opening 100km trek to Orleans.

From there, it was 125km to Tours and then onto Poitiers (a 113km cycle) and Angouleme (a further 143km). On day five, the group, which also included cyclists from other counties including Limerick and Kerry, embarked on a 111km journey to Libourne, in the southwest, before arriving in Mont de Marsan after another 138km cycle.

The seventh and final leg of the journey took the cyclists from Mont de Marsan to Lourdes (110km), where they entered through the St Michael's Gate, the primary entrance to the sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes.

The sixteen members from Athlone who took part from Athlone and its surrounding areas were: Martin Finucane, Richie O’Hara, Brendan Finnegan, Gerry McInerney, Alastair Gray, Alan MacNeice, Cormac Nott, June Robbins-Gilbert, Francis Keane, Kevin ‘Gooch’ Murray, Carmel Naughton, Michael Murtagh, Matt Harte, Ciaran Harte, Bridget Keane and Michael Keane.