A GROUP of cyclists from Belfast has completed a 200-mile journey from Newcastle to County Mayo to raise funds for Daisy Lodge and Cancer Fund for Children.
The group of eight – with two support drivers – were sponsored by Pizza Crew, and began their journey from Cancer Fund for Children's Daisy Lodge in Newcastle, County Down. They cycled one hundred miles on day one as far as County Cavan and another hundred miles on day two to Cong, County Mayo.
The fundraiser comes in the wake of former Ulster and Ireland rugby captain Rory Best walking nine marathons in nine days for the fund.
Daisy Lodge is a purpose-built therapeutic centre designed to enable those suffering from cancer, and their loved ones, to stay and spend time together in a safe and supportive environment. The charity are building another lodge in Cong.
Eddie Marcus, volunteer for Cancer Fund for Children, said the event has been very well supported.
"Pizza Crew and Douglas Adams have been big sponsors of the event. A huge shout-out must go to Andy Smillie as well. The Emmie Smillie Foundation donated £50,000."
Ciaran Kelly, owner of the Andersonstown Branch of Pizza Crew, said they were proud to sponsor the event, but said that he was nervous before the journey.
"I'm a professional pizza eater, not a cyclist! Preparation wasn't ideal, but when you're cycling with great people for a great cause, that's all the motivation you need.
"I got introduced to the Daisy Lodge by Joan from the charity. She invited me up and asked me to put on pizza workshops. When I saw the work that the staff do, that was all the motivation I needed to know that this was the right charity to support.
He continued: "They help so many patients, and also provide respite for families who are going through this and have seen it first hand."
Jane Adams, owner of the Pizza Crew's Antrim Road shop, said that supporting the charity was really important to her family personally.
"A year and a half ago our mother sadly died of cancer. We know that the pain and heartache we went through probably hits every family across the world. It wasn't a case of would we be part of this, it was a case of when."
Jane was not able to take part in the cycle due to a recent injury, however she supported them from one of the support cars.
"I refuelled them. I had lots of sandwiches, food, gels, anybody who needed dry clothes or anything like that.
"These guys who are doing this, they're all good cyclists, but they have even bigger hearts."
The groups JustGiving page is still live and has raised over £65,000 already.
