On Saturday August 14, 25 cyclists along with a support crew will depart Peak townland in Claregalway in memory of Enda Flaherty who passed away in August 2020. The cycle will take them on the 80km route through Ballinrobe, Partry and Westport to the foot of Croagh Patrick where the group will then ascend the Reek. With that small challenge finished, they will then return to their bikes and make their way home to Peak once again.
The idea for the memorial cycle came from a group of Enda’s friends who wished to pay tribute to his life.
Padraic Forde said Enda was a great husband and father, a son and brother, and a good friend to the cyclists who are taking part in this journey.
“He was well known as a local teacher and great hurler. Enda did so much for so many, especially in the local community and it is fitting that we take on this memorial cycle to also raise much needed funds for the Down Syndrome centre in Claregalway,” he said.
The centre provides essential services for children and adults with Down Syndrome and also for their parents. Events such as Speech and Language, Parents and Toddlers, Social evenings and Adult Education are just a selection of the events which normally run but have been put on hold due to Covid restrictions. The centre does not receive any Government funding and relies wholly on support from fundraising which have been curtailed also in the past 18 months.
All the cyclists are members of Challenge Cycling Club who will lend their support to the event, also providing leadership, support crew and safety vehicles. The cyclists, who come from all walks of life with some having only taken up biking in the past year, have been training for the past number of months. The event will start out from Peak, Claregalway at 7am on the 14th to honour a friend.
To show your support for the riders please visit www.idonate.ie/ Challenge4 DownSyndromeGalway
You can track the progress of training and preparation at its Facebook page in the lead up to the event and especially on the day https://www.facebook.com/Cycle4Enda
