Kilometres for a cause at CBS
THE FIRST Cycle Against Suicide by Coláiste Éamonn Rís took place in 2013 from Wexford to Oylegate and back.
The following year, the schoolboys trained hard and completed the cycle from Kilkenny to Wexford.
In 2015 despite atrocious weather the cycle left Clonmel in hope of reaching Portlaoise, but unfortunately had to be abandoned in Thurles, although many of our students were ready to plough on!
In 2016, we set off from Wexford to Arklow with a wonderful turnout of Wexford people. This year we hope to complete the leg from Thurles to Carlow, which will bring our Cycle Against Suicide total to 500km.
We got involved in Cycle Against Suicide for a number of reasons. Students and families have lost people to suicide. We want to support positive mental health and the Cycle Against Suicide message that ‘It’s OK not to feel OK, and it’s absolutely OK to ask for help.’
Coláiste Éamonn Rís has a long tradition in supporting mental health, our Stay Strong Week actively promotes positive mental health and teaches the students how to be resilient.
To date in the school we have had three Cycle Against Suicide Student Leaders as part of the Ambassador School Programme and have been awarded the status of an Ambassador School.
In Wexford town this year we decided to do the ‘human bike’ in our recognisable orange T-shirts. Students gathered in the busy areas of Wexford town, set up the human bike and spread the Cycle Against Suicide message.
Another important yearly event is our TY Céilí Against Suicide. Students from other schools all took part in a céilí mór and great craic was had. Colm Hayes and Tricia Quinn, Ambassadors from Cycle Against Suicide, came to support our community efforts.
For #SchoolsGoOrange Coláiste Éamonn Rís organised a TY Spinathon in our new gym. Every Transition Year student took part and cycled for 10 minutes. The goal was to break over 500km but in the end we exceeded our goal and our expectations, completing 615km.