‘Will you join us on the Ring of Kerry?’

ONE OF THE MAIN CHARITIES OF THE 2017 RING OF KERRY CYCLE, AGNES CASEY ROONEY CAN’T BELIEVE HOW FAR HER ‘BUY A BUS CAMPAIGN’ HAS COME FOR KERRY PARENTS AND FRIENDS

“IF you go back 14 months, the Buy a Bus Campaign didn’t even exist. Today, you’ll find we’re one of the main charities chosen by the Ring of Kerry Cycle – we’ve had an amazing time.”

Agnes Casey Rooney has always respected the work of Kerry Parents and Friends Association (KPFA). The charity has been a part of her life for years, having provided care for her sister Mairead – who has Down Syndrome – for decades.

A narrowing of her spine five years ago left Mairead largely confined to a wheelchair, and Agnes became Mairead’s full-time carer after their mother passed away in 2015.

But KPFA has helped Agnes and Mairead every step of the way since then, and Agnes was keen to give something back.

She has since co-ordinated a hugely successful campaign to replace the association’s aging transport, raising some €60,000, including enough for a new, wheelchair-accessible bus.

But Agnes doesn’t want to stop there; as most of the association’s 17 busses are over 10-yearsold, she hopes to secure more transport for the charity.

This week, she once again thanked everyone for their ‘mind-blowing’ generosity to date, and has now called for people to ‘cycle the ring’ for KPFA.

“When we found out that Ring of Kerry Charity Cycle were behind our campaign, we were gobsmacked,” she said.

“We’re looking for 1,000 people to take on the cycle for us on July 1, and over 500 spaces have already been filled. You can register at www. ringofkerrycycle.ie; registration costs €100, and, if you wish, you can also set up an Everydayhero online page to raise more funds for us.”

While Agnes is thrilled with how successful the Buy a Bus campaign has proven, she said her job was made easier by the goodwill the people of Kerry already had for a charity that serves people from Listowel to Valentia.

To donate to Buy a Bus campaign, you can visit the KPFA website or phone Agnes at (087) 986 5258. You can also donate €4 by texting BUS to 50300, which Agnes said would make ‘a nice present for the Lenten period.’