Down Syndrome Kerry in nod to unsung heroes
BALLYSEEDY Home and Garden Centre will be the starting point on Saturday as the Kerry Branch of Down Syndrome Ireland gets ready to stage the inaugural 75-kilometre ‘Unsung Hero’ charity cycle.
Celebrating the fact that Down Syndrome Ireland will be the main beneficiaries of the 2018 edition of the Tour de Munster cycle in August, the Unsung Heroes cycle will be held in memory of the late Emily Keohane, a former Down Syndrome Ireland Kerry member who passed away recently. Her father, John, has long been a mainstay of the Tour de Munster.
Rolling off at 10am, the cycle will make a stop at Annascaul’s South Pole Inn for refreshments ahead of their return at around 3pm.
The bar has been made famous by its connection to Antarctic explorer Tom Crean, and with Tom’s grandson Enda O’Brien heavily involved in the cycle, this seems a fitting location for the fun cycle to take a pit-stop.
“The cycle’s name matches the title of Michael Smith’s book on Tom Crean but also refers to the many unsung heroes involved with Down Syndrome Ireland Kerry,” he said. “We’ll be raffling the names of the cyclists for a free weekend in Tom Crean’s house in Gortacurrane,” Enda explained to The Kerryman.
“Registration takes place at around 9.15am, at Ballyseedy and the Earl of Desmond car park. My sister Aileen, who broke her leg in five places in 2016 attempting to recreate Tom Crean’s journey across South Georgia, but after her recovery, she’s hoping to participate in the cycle.”
Enda’s own 24-year-old son, Hugh, has benefited from Down Syndrome Ireland Kerry’s services and Enda explained that the group is entirely dependant on fund-raising.
Those who can’t get up on a bike can enjoy a day of family entertainment and food hosted by the Garden Centre and Down Syndrome Kerry on April 21