Children on board for parents’ charity cycle

Chapman family will set off from Oldcastle to cycle to Carrickmacross with the kids in tow to raise funds for charities with a special place in their hearts

An Oldcastle family will hold a unique charity fundraiser next month, when mum and dad will cycle from Oldcastle to Carrickmacross, towing their children behind.

The Chapman family – Sabrina and Derek and their children Emmet and Fia - will set off from the Square in Oldcastle at 9.15am on 7th May to cycle to Carrickmacross.

They will be raising fund for the Downs Syndrome Centre North East in Carrickmacross and the Louth Meath Branch of Down Syndrome Ireland.

“Our son Emmet has Down Syndrome and has attended the centre in Carrickmacross and the local branch of Down Syndrome Ireland have also been very good to us,” Sabrina explains.

The route they are taking will pass through Carnaross, Moynalty and Kingscourt.

“I am originally from Carnaross and Derek and I met through Moynalty cycling club,” Sabrina says.

“Derek will be towing our son Emmet and I will be towing our daughter Fia.

“We met through cycling over ten years ago and used to do a lot with the Moynalty Club but we haven't done as much in recent years because of work that needed to be done around the house.”

The couple usually go cycling for an hour or two on a Sunday with the children.

“We had a trailer for the bikes so we could bring the children but they were getting too big for them.

“We did a bit of Googling and we came across attachments called Weehoos, which gives the child better support, can be used until they are nine-years-old and they have pedals so the child has the option to cycle with you if they like.

“We got them at the start of lockdown and the children love them. They are really looking forward to the fund-raiser.”

Sabrina says they are hoping to raise a lot of funds for the two charities.

“Emmet attended early intervention in the Down Syndrome Centre North East and they offer a range of activities and information seminars for families like ours in Meath, Cavan, Louth and Monaghan.

“It was like a playschool, only better. It provided a slow environment and went at a slower pace to help him learn and it gave him confidence.

“He went to it one day a week and also to playschool. It helped him prepare for school.”

The centre also offers occupational therapy, speech and language therapy and music classes.

“They provide online talks and information online, even now when Emmet is at school.”

Emmet is now attending Castlerahan National School, where he is very happy and his little sister Fia will be starting there in September.

Sabrina points out that Down Syndrome Louth Meath provides support and information to over 350 families with Down Syndrome in the counties of Louth and Meath.

“It is run on a voluntary basis by parents of children with Down Syndrome. They provided a home tutor who came to our home and she prepared him for mainstream school.

“Both organisations have been such help to Emmet's development. And we want to give a little back to both organisations who offer these supports to Emmet and other families like ours,” she says.

To donate search for ‘Our Family Charity Cycle’ on GoFundMe.