Ring of Beara cycle bears fruit for two vital charities

IN only its second year ever the Ring of Beara Cycle raised more than €50,000 in an incredible response from cyclists and the wider community in support of two vital charities.

Staff from Cancer Connect and the Southwest Counselling Centre were described as the ‘real winners’ of the Ring of Beara event this week as the organisers of the cycle presented the funds at the Brook Lane Hotel in Kenmare on Thursday.

Manager of Cancer Connect Steve Ellis said the support will now allow the charity provide even more support: “The proceeds raised from The Ring of Beara Cycle Kenmare will help us provide support to the many people that avail of our services and we are extremely grateful for the continued support that the Ring of Beara fundraising cycle provides to us.”

Meanwhile, the Southwest Counselling Centre is planning to extend its services right into the stunning area the cyclists coursed through - Beara. “These much appreciated funds raised from the cycle will allow us to extend all our services into the Beara region so that we can offer low cost counselling, training and workshops to meet the mental health needs of people across their lifespan,” CEO of SouthWest Counselling Centre Lindsay Fredman said on Thursday.

More than 3,500 participants took to their bikes on a bright sunny day around the Ring of Beara on the two challenging, 110km and 140km routes which encompassed the magnificent mountains, valleys and the rugged coastline of the Beara peninsula - in what was the second year of the event..

Committee member and Kerry great Mickey Ned O’Sullivan thanked the local businesses, groups, clubs and volunteers for their continued support for this unique event. He also said plans are already underway to make the Ring of Beara Cycle 2017 an even bigger and better event. Registration for the 2017 Ring of Beara Cycle Kenmare will open on October 12 for past participants and October 13 for the general public. Visit ringofbearacyclekenmare.com for more details.

Photo by Marek Hajdasz Una Brennan from the Kenmare Marketing and Events Group (front centre) presenting a cheque to front from left: Vicky Ridgway, David O’Brien, Neilie O’Leary and Steve Ellis, representing Cancer Connect. Back from left: Mickey Ned O’Sullivan (ROB...