Cyclists take on 320 miles charity challenge to help underprivileged children in Africa

Organiser Stephen Mulbery and fellow members of Performance Swim, Bike and Run (SBR) in Slaughtmanus have organised the 320 miles charity cycle in aid of the Granaghan Outreach Charitable Trust.

Named after the small Swatragh parish in Co. Derry where it was formed back in 2006, the charity plans to return to squatter camps in Rustenburg, South Africa and northern Kenya where they previously built schools for the children in the villages.

When they return in February or March 2021, the group will be drilling water wells to help the villages of approximately 1,000 people get access to clean water.

And so the monies raised from the cycle and other fundraising events held in the city in the coming weeks will go some way to improving the lives of those in the African villages they plan to visit next year.

Those taking up the challenge of cycling 80 miles a day on the return trip to Westport on August 20th are a mixture of seasoned racers and beginners.

They warmed up for the challenge at the weekend with a two day cycle on Watt bikes outside the Spar shop in Culmore.

Brendan Connor, proprietor of Performance SBR, explained how a trip to Kenya with the charity proved 'life-changing' for his son, Shane.

"My son, Shane went along last year and a couple of other members' daughters went as well," said Brendan. "It changed his life and he was so humble when he came back.

"The experience these young people have when they're out there is just life changing for them.

"A lot of family members have been involved and my wife's brother, Paul Ward has been one of the leading lights in the charity.

"So Stephen Mulbery thought we could organise a charity event for Granaghan Outreach. They go once a year and build classrooms for underprivileged children out in Kenya. They've been doing for the past five or six years now.

"We thought it would be a great idea to raise some funds during Covid-19 situation. There wasn't much we could do so Stephen has organised this cycle which is running all weekend.

"We're hoping to follow it up with events in other local shopping centres leading into our big sportif event which is organised for August 20th where all the club members are starting off in Derry, going to Sligo and then to Westport.

"They'll then be going from Westport to Sligo and then back to Derry again over a two or three day period.

"We're hoping to raise much needed funds for the Granaghan Outreach charity and we'd like to thank everyone for their support, here over the last couple of days and we have a Go Fund me page set up which is already doing very well.

"We appreciate everyone who has helped. We'd also like to thank the Spar Shop in Culmore for facilitating our two day cycle at the weekend."

It promises to be a tough challenge but Brendan is confident the group are well prepared for the 320 miles round-trip.

"These guys have all been training hard together for the last two or three years and they're in real good shape for that sort of distance.

"It's 80 miles a day and there's a mixture of abilities so the stronger guys can pull the weaker people along if need be."

The group have already raised almost £700 for the charity and hope to raise up to £4,000 which will go a long way in the charity's fight against poverty.

"It's unbelievable what £100 could do out there. We set out here with a target of £500 for this weekend and I think we're at nearly £1,000 already.

"So hopefully by the time we do the cycle to Westport we will have £3,000 or £4,000 which would be a massive donation towards the charity and would do a lot of great things."

Granaghan Outreach Charitable Trust was formed in a follow up to the first parish voluntary project undertaken in October 2006.

On October 9th 2006 a team of 13 volunteers from the Granaghan Parish in Co. Derry travelled to Siaya Town in Western Kenya to take part in the first parish volunteer project consisting of the renovation of five classrooms at the Nyasidhi School.

The original idea for a volunteer project was generated by Fr. Kieran O’Doherty and the Granaghan Parish Council in early 2006.

Advice was sought from Moving Mountains, a Belfast and Nairobi based charity, and together with their help, an idea developed into a confirmed project.

Interest soon spread throughout the community and the foundation of a team of volunteers emerged.

​Since then the charity has travelled to many parts of the world such as Buenos Aires and Zambia.

Each trip has been successful due to the generous donations from the wider community and each of the volunteers.

The group would like to thank the following sponsors who have kindly donated to their cause: PSBR, Sinless snacks, Maydown Farm Shop, Jolene Harkin, Smart Mortgages, DQ Fitness, Emerge Fitness, The Asylum boot camp, Be You Massages, Kerrigan Construction and FerryClever.

You can donate to this worthy cause by clicking here