Giro d’Mayo 500 raises over €35,000 for Paediatric Unit in Mayo University Hospital

Fuelled by ‘enough gel to fill a small swimming pool’, the 13 riders braved the wind and the rain to complete the 500km odyssey and arrived into a huge welcome at the finish line in Mayo University Hospital.

Speaking after the group had collectively cycled the 6500km, Richie Needham said, “I think everyone is feeling quite good after. We all took care of ourselves, and we all took care of each other.”

READ MORE: Mayo riders to cycle 6,500km in aid of Castlebar Paediatric Unit

The other cyclists to complete the inaugural Giro d’Mayo 500 were Sean Heraty, Dave O’Malley, Francis Brogan, Tom Malone, Adrian Gallagher, John Brennan, David Brennan, Dave Walshe, Brian Kennedy, Graine Kennedy, Caroline Keogh, and Walter Lyons.

They were met by friends and family, among them were Richie’s sons Cole and Cooper.

It was the amazing care that Cole continues to receive from the Paediatric Unit that sparked the idea of the Giro d'Mayo 500, and all the money raised will go towards the unit.

So it was poignant that nurses from the unit joined the homecoming celebration at the finish line.

The original fundraising target was €10,000, but the team has already raised over €35,000, and the page remains open, so the team are now pushing to see if they can get to €40,000.

Richie is very grateful to everyone who has donated, whether it be small or big; it doesn't matter. Every single penny counts.’

The hidden heroes who made it possible were John Malone and Brendan Nally, who manned the lead car and support vehicle.

The coffee morning at The Creel and the spinathon at The Jester were a big hit, with Richie joking that he thinks the few pints in The Jester on Saturday night afterwards did more damage than the three days on the bike.

Richie also wants to thank the Gardaí and, in particular, Ciaran McNamara and John Needham.

To donate, please go to their GoFundMe page.