Write a comment
A Belfast based man who has competed in the Newry Wheelers racing league is planning to cycle the length of Ireland in a single day as part of a 40th birthday challenge, raising funds for Action Mental Health. Mark Rafferty will take on the Mizen to Malin route from dawn to dusk on the longest day in June, covering the distance in what he estimates will take between 20 and 22 hours.
Mark's connection to cycling goes back to his childhood in Newcastle, where he and his friends spent their time in Donard Forest on mountain bikes, taking on part-time work to fund new bikes and upgrades. In his late teens, a group would head to France each summer for mountain biking holidays.
"I guess bikes have been in my DNA, but it wasn't until I started my full-time job that I bought my first road bike to commute to and from the office. Shortly after the cycle commutes, I joined the Shimna Wheelers to give group cycling a try and to better understand road cycling. At that stage I was buying my road cycling clothing from the middle aisle in Lidl!"
Mark went on to try triathlon and open road racing before settling on longer endurance rides, and also participated in the Newry Wheelers racing league. "The Newry Wheelers league was and still is a fantastic series weekly across the summer months, with around an hour of good honest racing," he said. Recurring hamstring injuries led him to step away from cycling for a period, during which he focused on marathon running, but he returned to the road bike around six months ago with this challenge in mind.
The idea for a one-day attempt had been in his thoughts for some time. "I have always wanted to cycle the length of Ireland from Mizen to Malin however, most of the charity rides have historically taken place across 4 or 5 days. These are certainly big physical challenges but they have just never appealed to me," he said. When his wife asked what he wanted to do for his 40th birthday, the challenge presented itself as the answer.
Mark chose Action Mental Health as his charity after his wife Claire, a psychiatrist, gave him an insight into the pressures on mental health services in Northern Ireland. Working in construction, he has also seen the particular impact on men in the sector. "I see the mental health issues within the sector and in particular, men's mental health and the taboo of talking about it. The attitude is often 'keep the chin up, there are brighter days ahead' when really people should be sitting down and talking it through."
He added: "I feel it is disappointing that adequate funding isn't there to better support mental health and that charities have to fill that gap. That's why it's so important to support Action Mental Health who are doing fantastic work at supporting mental health well-being in Northern Ireland and providing services supporting the community and ultimately, stopping people from reaching crisis point."
Mark will be supported along the route by family travelling behind him during hours of low light, assisting with water, mechanicals and safety. A 30-minute stop is planned at the Athlone campus of the Technological University of the Shannon, where a gazebo will be set up for friends, family and supporters. Friends have also offered to join sections of the route, and anyone wishing to cycle alongside him or support in any way is welcome to do so.
His initial fundraising target was set at around £3,600 and the fundraiser has already raised over £2000. To donate or find out more, visit givewheel.com
