Cycle will champion mental health

CYCLE AGAINST SUICIDE SPIN-OFF WILL LEAD INTERNATIONAL ROSE PARADE

GENERAL Manager of the Rose of Tralee International Festival, Oliver Hurley, has expressed his pride at the festival’s association with the Cycle Against Suicide campaign’s SpinOff series.

Tralee and surrounding areas are set to host a 50km SpinOff cycle on August 20, and the cycle’s conclusion will lead the 2016 International Rose of Tralee parade through the town.

Mr Hurley feels that it’ll be a fitting part of the 2016 festivities: “The message championed by Cycle Against Suicide, ‘it’s OK not to feel OK, and that it’s absolutely OK to ask for help’, is relevant to everyone, including the peers of our Roses, Rose Escorts, and many of the people who attend Rose of Tralee events worldwide. We’re delighted to be associated with the SpinOff.

The locally organized SpinOff events take place once each month in different localities to further promote the message of the main cycle around Ireland.

The Tralee SpinOff departs from Aspen Grove at 2pm on Saturday, August 20. The route travels via Fenit harbour, before continuing to Ardfert, where the Parents and Teens section will join the main cycle at 4:30pm.

The Community Centre in Ballyheigue will offer refreshments from 5pm, and the centre also hosts a mental health presentation and guest speakers.

The cycle recommenc- es at 6.15pm, as the cyclists make their return journey to Tralee, via Ardfert, where the parents and teens conclude their leg. Register at www.CycleAgainstSuicide.com/SpinOff, or on the day at Aspen Grove, beside Lidl, from 12.30pm.

Registration for the Parent and Teen Cycle will take place at Ardfert Community Centre from 3.30pm on the day – 12 is the minimum age for participation in this section of the event.