Cycle Against Suicide is one of the biggest mental health fundraisers of the year – a great way of raising money for a brilliant cause while logging some time in the saddle
If you’ve somehow not heard of it until now, it’s high time you found our more – especially as this year’s event is shaping up to be one of the biggest yet…
Background
Started after an appearance on TV show The Secret Millionaire by businessman Jim Breen in 2012, the race has grown to become one of the largest, most established fundraisers for mental health awareness in Ireland today.
Challenging the stigma of mental illness and suicide by beginning a conversation about mental health, it aims to get a key message into schools, businesses and communities throughout the island of Ireland: “It’s OK not to feel OK”.
Each year, the organization brings together riders with different abilities and different stories to help break the cycle of suicide on the island of Ireland; over 15,000 cyclists have taken to the roads since 2013.
2019 plans
Cycle Against Suicide wants this year to be the biggest and best yet, spreading their message all over the island of Ireland. The event starts in Dublin on April 27 and will do an 800km loop, to end up back in the capital on 6 May. No easy feat, of course – but the efforts of participants will hopefully prompt unprecedented support for the charity.
How can you help?
For those interested in taking part, full information is available at the Cycle Against Suicide website. But if ten days in the saddle isn’t a possibility, then there are loads more ways to get involved.
For one, there’s no pressure to complete the whole route; cyclists can register for one-off, one-day cycle passes as the event travels around the country. With a planned pace of 20km/h, it shouldn’t be too much of a strain for experienced riders, and different levels and abilities will be catered for.
And if you’d like to lend a hand without climbing on your bike, you can also volunteer or home stay provider by visiting the Cycle Against Suicide website.
