Mick’s friends rally around for Pieta House
BIKERS from across the wider North Cork region have come together to once again prove that some good can come out of even the worst of tragic situations.
Following the death of bike enthusiast Mick O’Regan in September 2012, grieving friends of the popular Buttevant man came together to see what they could do to honour his memory.
After much thought they came up with the idea of holding a memorial run in Mick’s name, with the proceeds from the inaugural event being donated to Suicide Aware.
Subsequent year’s saw monies raised being donated to Pieta House and to date the run has raised almost €53,000. This included more than €20,000 from this year’s event, which recently saw more 289 bikers take a 90km trek along the highways and byways of North Cork.
Mick O’Regan’s mother Eileen and his close friend and Memorial Run co-founder Bertie O’Regan recently presented a cheque for €20,223 to Pat Duffy of Pieta House at Kitts Bar in Buttevant. Poignantly, the presentation coincided with the date of Mick’s fourth anniversary mass.
Speaking on the night Bertie said the annual run was not just about “a small group of bikers trying to extract good out of a really bad situation.”
“It’s about the sponsors, bucket collectors, people who filled sponsorship cards, the emergency services who help with each run and every single person who donates money, no matter the amount,” said Bertie.
“It’s about Kit Roche’s Bar who continue to host us and help us out, the musicians who played there after the run and the wonderful motorcycle clubs who helped marshal the event. Most of all it is about the marvellous bikers that turned up to commemorate our fallen buddy,” he added.
Bertie said that the combined efforts and generous donations of all involved help “put the tools of healing back in the hands” of the professionals at Pieta House.
“We may one day reach the goal that no parent has to embrace a son or daughter lost to suicide – and that day can not come quick enough. Until then we will need Pieta House and the help they bring to the vulnerable,” he said.
“We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for making a real difference. Through your help and donations you are saving lives and helping to chance many more lives for the better. Isn’t that the best day’s work ever?”