Cycle for Life 2015

Wed, 22nd July 2015

Cormac's Charity in his own words:

Hi Folks, Cormac Ryan here from Dublin. I am just two weeks out from my 1200KM cycle around Ireland as part of my Cycle For Life initiative.

I played in goal in the 2011 All Ireland Minor Hurling final with Dublin but was diagnosed with a serious heart condition the following year that left me with a pacemaker implanted in my chest and under the advice to give up GAA. Had I lost my life it would have fallen under the category of Sudden Adult Death Syndrome.

After a year on the sideline I made it back onto the county U21 panel for 2013 and 2014. In 2013, 14 months after my diagnosis I cycled 1100km around the coastline of the country as part of the Cycle For Life initiative raising €35,000 for various cardiac charities including the Cormac McAnallen Trust.

From July 31st-August 9th myself and 5 others will cycle through all 32 counties in Ireland over 10 days again for the same cause along with the inclusion of Aware as our mental health charity this time.

After my diagnosis I suffered badly with depression and anxiety for the best part of 3 years and struggled to mix what was going on in my head with being part of an inter county team. In October I did an interview with Damian Lawlor in the Sunday Indo coming clean about my battle with depression and it got a great response. Since then I have been an advocate of speaking out about mental health problems as I have experienced first hand the difference it can make and so included it in the Cycle For Life initiative for 2015.

All going well Cycle For Life will have raised over €50,000 over the last 2 years by the end of our trip. We want as many people as possible to join us. The more cyclists, the greater the change.

Our mantra for this year-Mind Your Heart,Love Your Mind.

Day 1: Dublin-Eglish (160km)
Day 2: Eglish–Donegal Town (160km )
Day 3: Donegal–Sligo (60km )
Day 4: Sligo–Athlone (168km )
Day 5: Athlone–Ennis (130km )
Day 6: Ennis–Killarney (120km )
Day 7: Killarney–Cork City (88km)
Day 8: Cork City–Waterford City(120km)
Day 9: Waterford City–Carlow (80km)
Day 10: Carlow-Dublin (110KM )

All donations welcome at http://www.irishheart.ie/iopen24/donations.php?sID=723