The 2nd annual Lap The Lake charity cycle was a great success for the RNLI this month, raising €24,000 for the lifeboat station.
More than 300 people took part in the cycle event on the shores of Lough Derg on May 6, a significant jump on the inaugural event’s numbers.
One change to the event which helped draw more people in this year was the choice to either complete a 120km route or a shorter 65km course.
The longer route took participants on a full circuit of Lough Derg, giving entrants the chance to cycle through three counties, Galway, Clare, and Tipperary.
The shorter 65km route took cyclists to just beyond Killaloe, to a turnaround point at the Killaloe Sailing Club.
Both routes gave participants the opportunity to delight in the outstanding beauty of the lake and the River Shannon. The event started and finished at Lough Derg Yacht Club where the RNLI lifeboat the Jean Spier is based.
Christine O’Malley, Lifeboat Operations Manager at Lough Derg RNLI said, “Lap the Lake was a fabulous event meticulously organised by the Fundraising team.”
“Hundreds of cyclists enjoyed the beauty of Lough Derg while raising essential funds for the RNLI, a charity that saves lives on the water and works to prevent drowning”.
The riders’ safety and well-being were a priority for the organisers and were well catered to; a large number of volunteers operated as First Aid providers, out-riders and marshals, with bike maintenance stops along the way, as well as comfort and refreshments stations.
Cyclists and their families praised the attention to detail, safety and comfort, a compliment to the organisational skills of the Lap the Lake Fundraising Committee.
Niamh McCutcheon, chair of the Lough Derg RNLI Fundraising Committee said, “We would like to thank the cycling committee: Ena Butler; Veronica Plunkett; Hilda Hamilton; Laura Clarke; Jonathan Horgan; Joe Hughes; John Mac Mahon and Mike Molampy.”
“We want to offer thanks to the Nenagh Garda Síochána, the Order of Malta, North Tipperary Wheelers, Nenagh Dive Club and the sweepers who encouraged and helped cyclists around the route.”
“We want to also thank Casa Street Kitchen for providing food, Noreen O’ Sullivan for providing refreshments and James Corballis, volunteer crew with Galway RNLI who provided the sound system for entertainment for the participants and their families on their return to Dromineer.”
Laura Clarke, also on the Fundraising Committee added, “There was tremendous anticipation and excitement leading up to the event, which could not have taken place without the support of the vast numbers of volunteers and of course the 304 cyclists and sponsors.”
Throughout the day the volunteer Lifeboat crew brought the Jean Spier to the public harbour in Dromineer and to other harbours around the lake, and were pleased to answer questions about the RNLI, its life-saving work and of course the lifeboat itself.
