Ballinasloe’s Sponsored Cycle took place on Saturday August 30th 2014. Since the first meeting in December 2013 Ballinasloe GAA had always said that a percentage of the funds raised should go to a local, worthy cause. Among the list of very worthy candidates was Galway East Life Support (GELS), who do so much to tackle the issue of suicide in our area.
We recognise the importance of mental well –being and if you have never suffered from such a problem it would probably be hard to fathom what it is like to suffer with mental health issues. The financial stability of the club is only a minor problem in relation to that of the suicide and the devastation it brings and we recognise the amount of integral work that this great charity do to prevent disaster. We all know someone who has been affected by suicide.
Gerry Roache, Superintendent and Chairman of GELS , believes that “People don’t like to talk about suicide and you don’t want t force it on them, but we need to raise awareness of the dangers and more importantly the raise awareness of the help that is out there. We have to fight to reclaim our young people and all our people. We need to work to get back from the brink”. Galway East Life Support’s Offices are located in Cullens Yard, Ballinasloe and we urge anyone who is suffering to contact them. For more information see www.gelifesupport.com
Approximately 240 cyclists took part in the cycle from Croke Park to Ballinasloe’s Clubhouse. There were four stages in the cycle, Croke Park to Kilcock, Kilcock to Kinnegad, Kinnegad to Moate and finally Moate to Ballinasloe GAA Clubhouse. We would like to take this opportunity to thank the sponsors, the cyclists, the committee and everyone who backed us since the cycle’s inception. A special thank you to Dillon’s Tyres, who were the first company to put their hands up and donate generously to our club.
