Westport women head off on huge charity cycle

The Westport WOW (Women On Wheels) have hit the road for their Mizen to Malin charity cycle.

The group, made up of local members of Westport Covey Wheelers and Westport Triathlon club, have taken on the 605 kilometre challenge in aid of Mayo Roscommon Hospice and Mayo Rape Crisis.

This morning, the women have hit off on what will be four back-to-back days of cycling beginning in Mizen in Cork, and passing through the Island of Ireland all the way up to Malin Head in Donegal.

Participating cyclist, Gráinne Kennedy, wrote on Facebook: ‘We are off, Westport WOW (Women On Wheels) Mizen to Malin Charity Cycle. Thank you to The Helm Westport for a wonderful breakfast, Kennedytravel westport and Tina Chambers our pilot.’

Arriving in Cork today, the cycling will start tomorrow when the WOW’s will travel over 147 kilometres from Schull to Charleville, and then another 157.26 kilometres from Charleville to Athlone.

From Athlone, the cyclists will head north to Enniskillen, a 126 kilometre trek. Finally, the group will leave Enniskillen and undertake a 147.58-kilometer journey to Malin.

_{The Westport Women on Wheels pictured at the town's Octagon (Photo: The Mayo News)}

Ms Kennedy is just one of the cyclists taking part in memory of her sister Sinead, who received care in Mayo Hospice before her death in December 2022.

She said: “Sinead went to day care every Tuesday in Mayo Hospice and she loved it. She loved getting her hair and nails done. She absolutely loved the facilities and she was comfortable at the hospice. Sinead spent her final ten days in Mayo Hospice and she is the reason why we’re doing this fundraiser – to give back to Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation so that they can support other families who are going through what we went through.” 

CEO of Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation, Martina Jennings, said they are 'so grateful' to be one of the chosen charities. "I’m very much looking forward to meeting everyone as they stop off at Roscommon Hospice this Friday. All funds raised make a huge difference to our patients, who have life limiting illnesses, ensuring we provide the best facilities possible to both them and their families. We have our two Hospices up and running but we do need continued support to keep them going," she continued.

_{The late Sinéad Barroso Lambert}

Previously speaking to The Mayo News, Ms Kennedy, explained that the idea for the cycle came from Colette Sweeney of Westport Leisure Centre.

“She put the word out to a few people from the two clubs. I’m part of the Westport Covey Wheelers and some of the other girls are part of the Westport Triathlon Club, so with the two clubs together, Colette contacted all the women to see who would be interested in taking on the challenge, and we had a meeting. We just came together and said we’d love to do it, so the agreement is anybody who is taking on the cycle has to be a member of either one of the clubs in Westport,” said Ms Kennedy.

A sense of community quickly formed when the women from both clubs combined.

Ms Kennedy commented: “A lot of the ladies have done other cycles like the Ring of Clare, Sligo Gran Fondo, Tour de Conamara, and we’re doing the Ballina Salmon Sportif this upcoming Sunday.

“When you’re part of a club, and you all come together, it brings the community together as well.”

She expressed her gratitude to all individuals and businesses who have donated or sponsored the women on their journey.

You can follow the cycle via Ms Kennedy’s Hammerhead link.

For more information, or to donate, see the Mizen to Malin iDonate fundraising page.