Cork To Kinsale And Back Again – Pieta 100
Now in its third year, the Pieta 100 will take place in 6 locations across Ireland on World Suicide Prevention Day, Sunday 10th September, including Cork with a cycle from Cork to Kinsale and back again.
The cycle was launched earlier this week at Pieta House Cork which is based off the Model Farm Road, by Miss Cork Tara O’Leary and Cork GAA stars Eoin Cadogan and Mark Collins. Tara will be cycling with her father on a tandem bike, a fitting reminder of how Pieta House encourages people to look after themselves and each other.
Since 2015, over 2,800 participants have saddled up to take on the Pieta 100 Cycle challenge, riding 50 or 100km to help raise vital funds for the life-saving services of Pieta House. This year, the event takes place on World Suicide Prevention Day, and every kilometre cycled will be added to the International Association of Suicide Preventions’ “Cycle Around The Globe”.
On Sunday, September 10th, you can saddle up and be a part of our cycles in Cork. Funds raised will go towards Pieta’s counselling services in Cork, where they see over 80 people every day, for those experiencing suicidal ideation, engaging in self harm or bereaved by suicide.
Pieta House CEO, Brian Higgins, is no stranger to cycling, having cycled 1,000km on a rickshaw for Pieta’s 10th Anniversary and the Ring of Kerry cycle in the past. He explains that the Pieta 100 is a unique, welcoming event open to individuals and teams of all abilities.
“One of the key things is how the team spirit outshines the competitive spirit,” he said. “It’s about starting and finishing a journey in a time that suits you. That’s actually a reflection of how our work at Pieta House is done. It’s about engaging with people and sitting alongside them on a journey which can take as long as it needs to for that person. We will travel alongside them, supporting them.
He added: “In the same way that someone out on a cycle can put a supportive hand on your back to help push you up a hill, that’s really the job of Pieta House too.”
The Pieta House CEO encouraged people to sign up for a Pieta 100 cycle this year and choose the route that best suits them, whether they’re interested in tackling a 100km or 50km route is entirely their choice.
“I know just how much commitment and effort goes into a big cycle. There’s a personal achievement that comes out of it, there’s the achievement of meeting new people and having a good day’s craic. There’s also the achievement of having raised money to keep our services free for anyone who needs them.”
*For more information and to register, visit www.pieta100cycle.com, email pieta100cycle@gmail.com or call Pieta House Cork (021) 4345971.
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