TWO West Belfast sporting clubs combined forces last weekend for a fantastic and successful cycling fundraising event in aid of a young girl, Ciarla Herron, who has suffered from cerebral palsy since her first birthday.
Four fundraising events took place from a ‘cyclathon’ in both the Park Centre and the Kennedy Centre, plus a hugely successful event back in June where the Glendale Imps and the Lámh Dhearg FUNdamentals squads all came together for a brilliant fundraising event at the home of the GAA club in Hannahstown.
The reason behind the funding is to help Ciarla journey to London where she will undergo state-of-the-art rehabilitation to help develop her walking abilities during her early childhood development.
The fundraising named ‘Ciara’s Next Steps’ has seen over £21,000 raised as the Herron family hope to raise their £50,000 target which will help a determined little girl access vital therapy and specialist equipment to build strength, improve mobility, and gain independence so she can thrive every day.
Ciara Doherty, a current Lámh Dhearg LGFA player and member of Glendale Cycling Club, was one of the lead organisers on the event for Ciarla’s Next Steps.
Ciara spoke with the Andersonstown News following their massive cycling event on the first weekend of August which saw over 120km completed in aid of Ciarla.
“It was honestly overwhelming in the best way,” stated Ciara.
“When Barney Herron (Ciarla’s grandfather) first approached me to be part of the ‘think tank’ behind fundraising ideas, I just thought of my own three girls.
“They cycle competitively and play GAA, and as a mum you do take for granted how lucky we are to have healthy, able-bodied kids.
“To see over 100 people line up for the 50km and 70km cycle on the 1st of August, with all the spin cycles and kid’s cycles leading up to it, for Ciarla — it felt like every pedal stroke had purpose.”
Ciara also touched on how inspiring it was to see Ciarla managing to achieve and get through some very tough sessions to help develop her walking during rehab, and how it helped the participants dig deeper during the events.
“Ciarla is such a special little girl, full of fight, and doing this for her towards achieving independent walking through her intensive sessions at NAPA in London. It just made you want to dig that bit deeper. We love it when a plan comes together.
“The cycle was the big finale, but it was really the culmination of weeks of work. We had spin cycles in local shopping centres the Kennedy Centre and the Park Centre, plus the sponsored kids cycle around Lámh Dhearg’s highway to health with the VC Glendale Imps joined by Lámh Dhearg's FUNdamentals, and then the 50km and 70km cycling sportive that brought everyone together for Ciarla, it has been really special.”
Ciara has ties with both Lámh Dhearg and Glendale.
“What was incredible was seeing both Lámh Dhearg and VC Glendale side by side and coming together for one cause, Ciarla.
“Club members, family, friends, local businesses — everyone turned out. Behind the scenes we had Frank Campbell, Conrad Kettlyes and Paul Buchanan putting in a massive shift to glue it all together.
“The atmosphere and community-feel was just brilliant. The donations from individuals, the self-employed business owners and other businesses rolled in, for which we are very grateful to each and every person who has contributed to date with both their time and money.
“Sporting clubs are about more than the game. They’re family at Lámh Dhearg and Glendale. We see each other at training, matches, fundraisers, the lot. So, when one of our own is hurting, you just show up.”
She added: “For Ciarla, that meant everyone dug in because we all want her to have every chance at independent walking to match her older siblings, Cushla and Cahan. Who are her biggest supporters!
“A lot of us know each other through kids’ sport, through school runs, through the local area. The two clubs working together for Ciarla just made perfect sense.
“The Herron family are synonymous with both clubs also, which made the merger all the more fulfilling.
“On the pitch or the road, we’re competitive, but off it we’re neighbours. This showed that when it really matters, Lámh Dhearg and VCG can come together and be a force for good. It’s been a privilege to be part of that, and I thank Ciarla’s parents Conor and Tara for trusting me with the coordination.”
Ciara also added her thanks to Barney, Ciarla’s grandfather, and the extended Herron family for letting the team help, and to every single person who donated, turned up, spun, cycled, or shared.
To donate to Ciarla’s cause and help the young girl on her journey to find her next steps check out the link Ciarla's Next Steps – Just4Children.
