Connor McKinney-McCallion cycle challenge this weekend

The fifty mile cycle gets under way at 9.00am from Derry City’s St.Columb’s Park House, cycling to Greencastle before returning to the City. The event celebrates the life of Connor McKinney- McCallion and is raising vital funds for Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice.

Event organiser Junior Morrison said; “This is a family friendly event that has been running successfully for 3 years; it now attracts over 100 cyclists and receives great support from the local Foyle Cycling Club. When we were personally touched by Connor’s battle, the amazing care by the Children’s Hospice nursing team and the heartbreak suffered by his parents, Stephen and Patrice, it really did put everything into prospective. In the past few years our focus has been on supporting the Children’s Hospice, which was so much part of Connor’s short life. This event also gives us the chance to highlight the fantastic care given by Children’s Hospice Specialist care teams to many local children and young people in the Derry/Londonderry area who along with their families face huge challenges with great courage and bravery. I would like to thank everyone who put so much work into making this event possible, especially my colleague Noel Barr from the Foyle Cycling Club, Helen Henderson manager of St. Columb’s Park House and Fr Canny such a constant source of strength to Connor’s parents, Stephen and Patrice. I hope the weather is kind for us and that everyone enjoys a great day out. The event is open to all and registration begins at 8.30am.”

Northwest Children’s Hospice Chairperson Mary O’Neill said; “I am delighted that the Foyle Cycle Club, Junior Morrison and so many others are once again taking part in the Tour of the Lough in honour of Connor and helping us to highlight a local charity that needs and deserves our support in the Derry/Londonderry area. As a mother of a disabled young person, I can fully appreciate the life line the Children’s Hospice care teams are to families of life limited children with very complex needs. Children’s Hospice costs £3 million to run its unique care services in the community but receives very little Government help and relies on the generosity of the public to find £2.5 million every year. Everybody taking part in the fundraising cycle challenge will help us to continue providing a much needed service here in the North West.”

For further information & Registration for the Connor-McKinney/McCallion Fundraising Cycle – Saturday 21st May from St Columb’s Park House – Greencastle, call Stephen: 07756 482 621, Junior: 07985 40 11 92, Noel: 07730 064 924. Registration £20.00 per cyclist. Evening entertainment & raffle at Campbell’s Bar, Spencer Road, Waterside. Raffle tickets on sale at the cycle event @ £2.00 per ticket.

Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice is a local charity caring for children and young people with life-limiting and life-threatening illnesses. All money raised will go towards providing the best care possible for local children, young people and their families. It costs £503 to provide for the full care of a child for twenty-four hours and £102 for one overnight nurse at home. It costs £3million to run Children’s Hospice every year and with limited Government funding, all donations, large and small are much needed at NI Children’s Hospice.