County Tipperary charity cycle raised €3,000 for Marie Harris - House Adaptation appeal

More than 80 cyclists zipped along the highways and byways of south Tipperary last week to raise funds to help a Carrick-on-Suir woman who has suffered a serious stroke return to her home.  

Slievenamon Cycling Club’s charity 50 kilometres and 100 kilometres cycles on Sunday morning, April 30 raised €3,000 for the Marie Harris – House Adaptation GoFundMe appeal.

The cycles started and finished at the Kplan Community Centre in Kilsheelan and were blessed with good weather. 

Slievenamon Cycling Club treasurer JJ Keyes said cyclists came from a wide area to take part in the charity event. 

Marie Harris’  husband David, who set up the GoFundMe appeal, and other members of his  family were at the start to see the cyclists off on their expedition. 

“He came up to wish us well and gave a lovely speech with some family members. The club and cyclists were delighted to see the Harris family,” said JJ.  

Marie, who is aged in her 50s, suffers from diabetes and peripheral arterial disease and suffered a severe stroke in  December, which affected her vision and the right side of her body. Her left leg, which was injured in a fall before the stroke, also had to be amputated.

 She is currently in a stroke rehabilitation unit and her home needs to be adapted to suit her needs in order for her to return home. 

JJ Keyes said all the money Slievenamon Cycling Club received in donations and sponsorship went straight to the cause. The club covered any expenses incurred in running the cycle. 

The 50k cycle brought cyclists from Kilsheelan to Mullinahone and  Cloneen,  and back to Kilsheelan, while the 100k cycle went to Callan,   Ballingarry, Killenaule, Ballynonty and back to Kilsheelan via Fethard and Clonmel.  There were refreshment  stops at Mullinahone Co-Op and Ballingarry Community Centre as well as the Kplan Community Centre. An army of volunteer stewards kept the cyclists on the right path and  The Cycologist Bike Shop in Clonmel provided a repair service for any cyclists who suffered a puncture or other bicycle break down. 

“People really enjoyed the cycle and the spirit on the day was fantastic. People were great to rally to the cause and we got great support from other cycling clubs,” said JJ.   

He  thanked  the Gardaí and Order of Malta for their  assistance on the day, all the volunteers who provided refreshments and marshalled the event, the Kplan and Ballingarry Community Centres and  sponsors Laharts Skoda Clonmel , Clonmel Oil and The Cycologist Bike Shop.

 He also thanked Marty’s Pantry and SuperValu in Carrick-on-Suir, Lidl, Flahavans and people  who donated food for the cyclists.

 The Kilsheelan-based Slievenamon Cycling Club  is now turning its attentions to organising a Kids Bike Week event at Ballypatrick Sportsfield on Saturday May 20 from 3pm to 5pm. 

The event will be suitable for children able to cycle a bike without stabilisers.

Check out more photos from Slievenamon Cycling Club's charity cycle in aid of the Marie Harris - House Adaptation GoFundMe appeal in this week's edition of The Nationalist now on sale in local shops.