BRIEGE (72) TAKES TO THE ROADS FOR CF CHARITY
A life-long passion for cycling sees Briege Lynn setting herself the daunting challenge of cycling 100km in a fortnight for charity.
Well, daunting for many, but Briege, who is a very sprightly 72-year-old, has taken part in the Cystic Fibrosis walking fundraiser for the past 20 years, and is undeterred by the event being cancelled this year.
‘I was disappointed that I can’t get out and do the walk as usual, so I used to do charity cycles for the Asthma Society in the 90s and thought I would just get back in the saddle for this one,’ says Briege with a laugh.
‘I love cycling, but this is not about me, it’s about raising as much money as possible for Cystic Fibrosis, which is in great need of the funds as the event is now off.’
Briege has a good few kilometers on the clock already, having taken to the roads around Clogherhead and Stamullen, but has even more Euros in the kitty.
‘I only started a few days ago, and I’m already over half way to my target of €1,650,’ she says.
‘People have been very generous and I hope I reach my goal soon.’
Briege says it’s not all about her, but she is hard to ignore! Originally from Tyrone, she moved to Drogheda nearly 40 years ago to work in the Cottage Hospital.
‘I love the outdoors, and was never in when I grew up in the North, so wanted to keep it up when I moved here,’ explains Briege.
‘My son Stephen had asthma as a boy, so that’s when I started raising money for them, and would you believe I had a High Nelly bike that I first brought the kids for a spin on – they loved it.’
It rubbed off because Briege tells a tale of her son riding all the way to Bettystown as a four-year old with stabilisers on his bike, which is not to be recommended!
‘He went on to swim the English Channel and cycle all the way here from his home in Ennis, so he must have got something from me,’ she laughs again.
‘ The only thing that isn’t great at the moment is the weather, and although I’m well able for the roads, I wish there wasn’t as much rain.’
You can donate to Briege’s challenge on www.justgiving.com ‘Briege’s 100k Cycle for Cystic Fibrosis’.
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/briege-lynn?fbclid=IwAR1Ry6EAiwG1WZgLadnaOx93TgYPiLqx2tZUttB7w8zZP7EghBVa6oeUllw