Charity Cycle from Mizen to Malin

Staff, contractors, family and friends of The Property Panel are coming together in 2011 to raise money for Irelands children living in crisis. The recipients of our fundraising work tirelessly to address the main causes of crisis in children, being domestic violence, homelessness and serious illness.

In August 2011 we are undertaking the massive challenge of cycling 620km from Malin Head to Mizen Head. Please sponsor us! Your donation will be used to benefit the lives of children in the following ways:

Homelessness - Focus Ireland aims to advance the right of people-out-of-home to live in a place they call home through quality services, research, and advocacy. Our fundraising is be used to support the continuation of the Extension Day Service - a drop in day service where young homeless people can come in to take a shower, get something to eat, do their laundry and get advice and information. These young people tend to be very vulnerable and the staff from Focus Ireland spend time building relationships with them, helping them to access services and to move out of homelessness into a place of their own.  

Domestic Violence - Sonas Housing Association provides supported housing to women and their children who are homeless due to domestic violence as well as other forms of gender-based violence. Our fundraising will be used by the Bright Horizons Foundation for Children to create a 'Bright Space' - a warm, enriching special play and learn environment for children within a Sonas Housing womans refuge in Dublin.

Serious Illness - The Childrens Medical and Research Foundations mission is to support research into the cause, treatment, care and prevention of childrens illnesses and disease and to actively support excellence in the care and treatment of sick children by providing supplementary equipment, facilities and assistance. Our fundraising will be used in St Peters Ward, to acquire pressure relieving mattresses to prevent and treat pressure ulcers for new born babies with limited mobility. Funds will also be used for the creation of murals in the ward.

On Saturday 6th August The Property Panel will meet in Bantry to commence the first leg of our journey from Malin head to Mizen head - a 620km cycle which we will undertake in 7 days. 

Sunday 7th we commence the cycle in earnest doing 110km from Bantry to Tralee, taking in some good climbs, Mol's Gap & Lady's View. 

Monday 8th we have a forgiving terrain from Tralee to Kilkee via the ferry @ Tarbert, 74km in all.

Tuesday 9th the legs will be pumping the steep climb from Kilkee to Galway, 126km which may be the undoing of some of us!

Wednesday 10th some 77km of gentle slopes from Galway to Castlebar.

Thursday 11th - more of the Property Panel join us for the final few legs, an undulating 100km from Castlebar to Sligo.

Friday 12th - Alan describes this as an 'Interesting' 111km descent into Letterkenny following a demanding climb to Barnsmore Gap.

Saturday 13th - A full team for the final day from Letterkenny to Malin Head where the cyclists will have endured a very demanding finish!

Our brave team of (novice) cyclists includes:

Alan Quirke, Fergal McKenna, David Heskin, Jim O'Carroll, Mark Losty, Eamonn Rock, Tom Matthews, Wee Paddy McArdle, Marvin Kelly, Aidan Barrett, Fiachra Baynes, Peter Williams, Mark Ryan, John Sarsfield, Vincent McHugo, and Martin Hickey.

Our support team includes:

Paula ter Brake, Pat Heskin, Alan & Pat Wookey