Willows club to Wheel through Meath

The Willow Wheelers, one of Ireland’s largest and most high-profile cycling clubs, will undertake its 28th annual 160km cycle this Sunday, passing through Meath.

The Club, whose former members include professional cyclist, Nicolas Roche, and Newstalk broadcaster, Henry McKean, expect over 300 cyclists to take part in the event aimed at raising funds for water, health and education projects in Africa, South America and Southeast Asia.

Founded in 1989 by Christy McDaid, the Willow Wheelers comprises primarily of current and past students from Willow Park School and Blackrock College. Since its foundation, the number of participants in the annual cycle has grown from just 20 to over 300 – which has resulted in a significant amount of money (over €2m) being raised for the third world projects they support.

Participants will leave Blackrock in South County Dublin at 8.45am and travel via Trim and Ballivor on route to Kinnegad, where they will take a short rest-stop before returning to Blackrock.

Unlike other similar fundraising events, the money generated from the cycle does not go to a charitable organisation. Instead, the club engages directly with Irish missionaries working in deprived areas of the world who are in need of funding for local projects. Each year, members of the club visit areas where they are providing funding to ensure the money is being put to good use.

Christy McDaid commented: “These trips are at our own expense as it has been our policy from the start that 100% of funds raised go directly to the projects we support. Having the opportunity to see how the money we raise is helping provide water, health and education to some of the most deprived areas of the world, is particularly important for communicating to people that the money they donate really does make a difference.”

“We are making a special effort this year for the Pokot region of Kenya, where that have had no rain for eight months. The area has been decimated by drought and famine affecting humans and animals alike.”

 

Schedule
08:45: Departure from Blackrock College
09.30: Phoenix Park
10.00: Clonee
11.30: Trim
13:30: Ballivor
14:15: Kinnegad
15.15: Kinnegad – Depart
16:30: Enfield
17.00: Kilcock
17:30: Maynooth
18.00: Leixlip
19:00: Blackrock College