Local man to complete 750km cycle for charity in memory of nephew

Shannonbridge resident Gerry O'Sullivan will undertake the Cycle against Suicide N2 End to End Challenge 750km cycle this week in Portugal over six days to honour the memory of his nephew Ben and to raise funds for suicide awareness.

Speaking about why he decided to take part in the challenge, Gerry explained: “My 20 year old nephew Ben tragically passed away last September. To honour Ben’s memory and to raise much needed funds for Suicide Awareness, I’m taking part in the Cycle Against Suicide. I think within a week or two of him passing I got a notification from Cycling Against Suicide on my phone. When I saw it I kind of wanted to do it to honour Ben's memory and then to raise funds.”

“There was a cycling challenge in it as well so I was kind of happy to take that on too,” added Gerry. A group of 60 people will take on the six-day cycle challenge, from May 20 to May 25.

Gerry has been training for the mammoth challenge since last January. Ben passed away in September 2022 and Gerry said he committed to taking on the cycle challenge last November. He trained for 62 days on the bike and covered an impressive 4,250km in that period.

Gerry previously completed a 1,000km cycle in 2021 from Ballinasloe to Mizen Head and then on to Malin Head. He also cycled from Mizen Head to Malin Head in 2018. Both cycles were in aid of Diabetes Ireland as Gerry's son and daughter have Type 1 Diabetes. He rasied over €8,000 from each cycle for the charity.

Gerry originally set a target of €3,000 for the upcoming charity cycle but said that he is going to exceed €8,000 again as he has managed to raise €7,877 to date.

The Shannonbridge resident commented on the support that he has received locally. “The support locally has been great. The priest put a note into the parish newsletter for me.”

Gerry continued: “I actually got a donation that blew my mind when I woke up one day and I saw a donation of €75 from the First Holy Communion class of Clonmacnoise National School."

Gerry is the chairperson of Ballinasloe Cycling Club who have been hugely supportive along with Shannonbridge GAA Club and Ballinasloe Rugby Club.

Gerry's main goal in terms of the cycle is to complete the staggering feat. “It really is just to take on the challenge, to raise as much funds as we can and then to honour Ben's memory.”

“People have different reasons for doing it. Some people are doing it for their own mental health. Some ar

e doing it because they've been affected by suicide. It resonates with everybody. Everybody has been affected directly or indirectly by suicide,” stated Gerry.

The Tipperary native described his nephew Ben as a “car fanatic” who was “great fun” to be around. He was also an apprentice mechanic.

To donate to the fundraiser visit https://eventmaster.ie/fundraising/pages/GO98279073