Charity
Registration open for 2016 Pieta 100 Cycle Limerick
Pictured at the launch of Pieta 100 Cycle Limerick 2015, were Reg Bennett, Vistacon Cycling Club, Ciara McInerney, Limerick Sports Partnership, Hugh Morrissey, The Hub, bike for life, Andrew Conway, Munster Rugby, Niamh Carey, Limerick Triathlon Club, Thomas O’Leary, Munster Rugby, Johnny Ryan, Munster Rugby, Kieran O’Brien, Pieta House and Mairead Fitzgerald, Limerick Sports Partnership.. Picture: Keith Wiseman.
With time ticking down to the big event, you can still register for this year’s Pieta 100 Cycle Limerick in aid of Pieta House. The cycle takes place in ten locations throughout Ireland on Sunday, September 25.
Following from the success of last year’s events, Pieta House services have grown from their nine locations in 2015 to ten this calendar year. At the inaugural event that took place last year, over 700 cyclists turned out to take part in Limerick with events in just three other cities; Cork, Dublin and Galway.
Cyclists can choose from either a 50km or 100km route, both starting at Mungret GAA club, Mungret Village. Participants will pass the Pieta House Midwest House in the first 5km, which has been providing a service to the people of the region since 2012. Those opting for the 50km route will cycle to Patrickswell, Adare, Rathkeale, Askeaton, Kildimo, Clarina and on to the final stretch back to Mungret GAA club. The 100km participants will start on the same route but from Rathkeale they will go to Newcastle West, Ardagh, Ballyhahill, Loughill, Foynes and return to the same route as the 50km cyclists from Askeaton making their way back to Mungret GAA club.
Brian Higgins, Pieta House CEO said, “It’s about starting and finishing a journey in a time that suits you and 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 and that journey can take as long as it needs to for that person. We want to travel alongside them and support them.”
“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,” he added.
The Pieta 100 Cycle will raise much-needed funds for the ten Pieta House services across the country, as well as raising awareness of the issues of suicide and self-harm. Pieta House hopes that the event will become part of their annual fundraising calendar.
Pieta House is a suicide and self-harm crisis centre founded in Lucan, Co. Dublin in 2006. With nine centres throughout Ireland, Pieta House provides a professional one-to-one therapeutic service for those who are experiencing suicidal ideation or engaging in self-harm. A doctor’s referral or a psychiatric report is not required and the service is completely free of charge. To date, Pieta House has supported more than 20,000 people, with more than 5,000 of those seeking help in 2015.
Here you can find more information on Pieta House.
You can find registration information here.
Read about last year’s Pieta 100 Cycle Limerick here.
Here you can read more stories about Pieta House.