Charity cycle is gathering pace

Supporting the Londonderry to Greencastle Cycle are, back row, from left: Junior Morrison, Fr Michael Canny, Stephen Mccallion, Paul mccallion, Conor Mcfadden, and front, Liam Shiels, Mary O'Neill Chairperson Childrens Hospice, Caiden McKinney, Maureen McKinney, Patrick Mccallion and Stephen Brolly.

The annual event takes place on Saturday, May 21 and is a 50-mile cycle from the city to Greencastle and back again. It will get under way at 9am at St Columb’s Park House, cycling to Greencastle before returning to the City. The event celebrates the life of Connor McKinney-McCallion and the aim is to vital money for the Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice.

Junior Morrison, the event organiser described it as a family friendly event, which had been running successfully for three years.

“It now attracts over 100 cyclists and receives great support from the local Foyle Cycling Club,” he said.

“When we were personally touched by Connor’s battle, the amazing care by the Children’s Hospice nursing team and the heartbreak suffered by his parents, Stephen and Patrice, it really did put everything into prospective. In the past few years our focus has been on supporting the Children’s Hospice, which was so much part of Connor’s short life.

“This event also gives us the chance to highlight the fantastic care given by Children’s Hospice Specialist care teams to many local children and young people in the Londonderry area who along with their families face huge challenges with great courage and bravery.”

Mr Morrison went on to thank all those involved, particularly those who organised the event.

The event is open to all and registration begins at 8.30am.

Northwest Children’s Hospice chairwoman Mary O’Neill said she was delighted that the Tour of the Lough in honour of Connor was helping highlight a the charity.

“As a mother of a disabled young person, I can fully appreciate the life line the Children’s Hospice care teams are to families of life limited children with very complex needs,” she said.

“Everybody taking part in the fundraising cycle challenge will help us to continue providing a much needed service here in the North West.”

For further information or registration details for the Connor-McKinney/McCallion Fundraising Cycle telephone organiser Stephen McCallion on 07756482621 or Junior Morrison on 07985401192.

The registration fee has been set at £20 per cyclist.

The event will be followed by evening entertainment and a raffle at Campbell’s Bar, Spencer Road, Waterside.

Raffle tickets will be on sale at the cycle event and will be sold at £2 per ticket.

Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice is a local charity caring for young people with life-limiting and life-threatening illnesses.