Lisa to race around Ireland
ENNISCORTHY’S Lisa Jacob will arrive in Wexford on Friday as she competes in an ultra-endurance 2,150km race around Ireland in just 132 hours.
Lisa, a former Irish international hockey player and Nikki Dorey, a pilot with Aer Lingus and a competitive triathlete will be the first all-female duo to cycle the gruelling ultra-distance 2,150km non stop Race Around Ireland.
The pair will alternate cycling three hours on and three hours off for 132 hours and started their cycle on Sunday.
Both girls are strongly passionate about mental health and are also fundraising €100,000 for one of Ireland’s leading mental health charities, Suicide or Survive.
Lisa and Nikki who are in a long term relationship are both very aware of the closely related association between mental health and LGBT equality, especially in the youth demographic and have a personal understanding of the mental health issues associated with the LGBT community.
Speaking about the race Caroline McGuigan, founder and CEO of Suicide or Survive, is full of praise for what they are doing. ‘What Nikki and Lisa are doing is truly inspirational.
‘ They have dedicated months of their lives to training, night and day, rain or shine. What they are now embarking on is a true testimony to their incredible generosity and determination to make Ireland a better place.
‘ They have inspired us enormously with their courage and I know they will inspire countless others. The funds they are raising are so important as we continue to work together to address the tremendous pain and suffering associated with mental health and suicide in Ireland. We encourage everyone to get behind these heroes.’
Lisa was a pillar of the Irish hockey team for over ten years gaining 139 caps for her country. Sporting success continued after her hockey career, with a call up to the Irish Rugby 7’s team where she was a contracted player for a year. She now coaches hockey in Genesis Hockey club in Dublin and is working as an executive coach at The Performance Hub, delivering high performance workshops, motivational talks, and one-to-one coaching.
‘I have always had 2016 as a milestone year in my mind’, said Lisa. ‘As an elite athlete I operated in Olympic cycles, and probably felt I had the energy to be competitive until 2016. In the last year my priorities changed, and qualifying for Rio was no longer what I really wanted.
‘I wanted more time with the important people in my life, more focus on my career, and more control of my own schedule.
‘Why the Race Around Ireland? It scared me, which meant I should probably do it. I guess mostly it’s a self-exploration. How will I react when things are hard? What will I learn about myself and others that will serve me well for the rest of my life? Where will this amazing journey take me? What difference can I make to people along the way?’
Lisa and Nikki are expected to arrive in New Ross at 8.33am on Friday before hitting Wellingtonbridge at 10.41am and Kilmore at 11.50am.
They are expected in Wexford town at 1.16pm, in Cloughbawn/Clonroche at 2.56pm, in Kiltealy at 3.48 before arriving in Bunclody at 5.20pm.
For more information visit www. racearoundireland.com.