Cycle Against Suicide passes through Navan on Sunday

The 2016 Cycle Against Suicide starts this Sunday, with the first leg finishing in Navan around lunchtime.
Now in its fourth year, this year’s Cycle will travel over 1,100 kilometers around the island of Ireland over 14 days, beginning in Dublin on Sunday and concluding back in Dublin, on Saturday, 7th May. The first leg on Sunday will see the cyclists travel from Dublin to Navan and the afternoon stage on Sunday will see participants leave Navan to continue to Virginia.
Involvement in this event has increased significantly year on year as evidenced by the fact that registrations are set to peak in 2016, with approximately 7,000 cyclists expected to participate.
Over 800 people die by suicide in Ireland each year. 800 families and communities devastated; 800 lives cut short. Cycle Against Suicide is positively changing our mind set and behaviour around mental health and emotional wellbeing by spreading the message that “It’s OK not to feel OK; and it’s absolutely OK to ask for help” into schools, businesses and communities throughout the island of Ireland.
Colm Hayes, Cycle Against Suicide Ambassador and RTE 2FM DJ stated “In the face of considerable social challenges and within the context of the current political climate, mental health issues are not being prioritised. To me, this simply does not make sense, as the two are absolutely connected. People all over this island are struggling on a daily basis to pay water charges, to make mortgage repayments, to wait excessively in understaffed and overcrowded A and E Departments. Such struggles have a fundamental impact on how we feel about ourselves, how we feel in ourselves, our mental health. Cycle Against Suicide acknowledges life’s difficulties, offers reassurance and hope, and meaningfully empowers individuals across the island of Ireland to seek help when necessary.”  
There are many ways to become involved in breaking the cycle of suicide on the island of Ireland: cycle for a leg, a day, a weekend or maybe even the entire 14 days; offer your support as a volunteer; register as a Homestay Provider and host a cyclist as they pass through your community. Please see www.cycleagainstsuicide.com or e-mail volunteer@cycleagainstsuicide.com / homestays@cycleagainstsucide.com for more information.