Day 7

Yesterday the team started the day just outside of Liverpool and rolled through the industrial north east of England. With less to look at the group turned to the usual topics of Greek philosophy, complex legal problems and ornithology. Bernard, having been given a book on the tour de france for his birthday entertained the group with interesting facts about the race.

Having flirted with Wigan and Manchester for half of the day they finally got to the English hills again. With the spirits rising the heavens opened to reminded the group that they are in Britain after all and heading north!!!

Highlights of the day included a stop of Garstang to be greeted by brilliantly welcoming people only too willing have a laugh and to give to the cause.

96 miles and 9.5 hours later we ended in Kendal at the foot of the Lake District with hopes and excitement of what is in store tomorrow.

Performer of the Day: Gerald Byrne – struggling with two injured knees and a dodgy ankle, Gerald spent the evening with ice-packs strapped to each leg.  He didn’t let it affect his performance though – 10/10

Langer of the Day: Ercus Stewart – two yellow card offenses.  Firstly for coldly stealing Kenny’s Eccles cakes at our lunch stop; secondly for leading Ben down the garden path…only 2 miles in the wrong direction.  Must do better.

Cyclist update:

Matt Hoyle- the resident Australian is still putting in a huge effort and is under strict orders not to shave his lucky beard as so far it has worked its mysterious powers making sure the group got safely home each day. Looks great in white.

Kenny – showed a new side of himself at dinner regaling the gang about his escapades in Budapest baths. Becoming a master of the puncture repairing and really looking forward to bringing us home to bunny Scotland.

Ercus – the silver tongue, blue eyed ‘face’ of the group managed to make 75 peoples’ day with his quick remarks. Most of the 75 were only delighted to give a few pounds to the cause after a few minutes with Ercus.

Neill – We would be in Colombia and not Cumbria if Neill was not on the trip. Managed to stretch, eat two sandwiches and clean his bike in the time it takes Bernard to go to the toilet.

Gerald – although his triceps are very impressive he still manages to reduce the masculinity levels of the group with the Sofie Lauren glasses he fashions. That extra weight and size are a huge benefit on the downhills, pity about the climbs!!!!!!

Ben –   it is very hard to believe this is his 5th day in the saddle as he looks brand new. Not a big fan on geese eggs but strong on facts. Wild youthful imagination makes him see umbrellas where toil is only present.

Bernard- beginning to realise that he would never have made it in the tour having read the book he has been given. Keeping spirits very high and using all of his extensive charm to get donations at bus stops and delis.

Michael- Moonlighting as a wedding photographer in his time off. Brilliant all day with the group.

The new group member is Andrew Coldwell who joined the group today.

Saturday, today is Day 7  and the team will enter Scotland as they cycle 96 miles from Kendal to Dumfries

Again you can show your support for the team’s fantastic and unwavering spirit as they take on the challenge! www.justgiving.com/1039miles 

Remembering the faithful departed (while they’re still with us) – A piece in the Irish Times

In today’s Irish Times you will find an excellent piece on the Forgotten Irish. Whether it’s in print or online make sure you read this article which also focus’s on our charity cycle starting tomorrow.

Donate at www.justgiving.com/1039miles 

Hitting the mark

The target is £15,000 but the team is looking to raise as much as possible from their hard efforts for the Forgotten Irish. With the start of the cycle Land’s End in just two days the team have already raised over £10,000 which is fantastic!

We’d like to thank everyone who has supported the fundraising efforts and Please Show Your Support if you haven’t done so already.

Meet the team

The Ireland Fund of Great Britain is proud to have a dedicated team behind the charity cycle from Land’s End to John O’Groats.

Pictured above are the boys from Brown Rudnick LLP in the team kit. Left to Right shows Neill Shrimpton, Ben Williams, Scott Burns (Managing Partner at Brown Rudnick) Gerald Byrne and the cycle’s driving force Bernard McEvoy.

The team also includes Kenneth Dalby (from AIB Glasgow), Ercus Stewart, and Matt Hoyle.

The chef d’equipe is Michael O’Driscoll from RTE and The Ireland Fund of Great Britain’s Sheila Bailey will be there to encourage and support the team along the way.

You too can be part of the fundraising efforts by showing your support and donating at www.justgiving.com/1039miles

Radio Kerry Interview

On August 15th Bernard McEvoy gave a fantastic interview on Radio Kerry entitled ‘How Irish people living in the UK have fallen on hard times’ Click to listen to the Radio Kerry Interview to have a first hand account on why the fundraising cycle is happening and who is it we’re trying to help.

Don’t forget to donate on JustGiving and more information on the Forgotten Irish can be found here.

Why We’re Cycling

Headed by Bernard McEvoy and Neill Shrimpton, both partners at Brown Rudnick LLP and members of the British Irish Chamber of Commerce, a team of 7 cyclists will set off from Land’s End in Cornwall this Sunday 25th of August and in just 10 days will have cycled the length of Britain all the way up to John O’Groats in Scotland.

The team are taking on the challenge to fundraise for The Ireland Fund of Great Britain’s Forgotten Irish Campaign. 

In 2007 The Ireland Fund of Great Britain commissioned unique research in order to identify, locate and quantify the numbers of vulnerable and elderly Irish in the UK. From this research, Peter Sutherland, Patron of The Ireland Fund of Great Britain, and President Mary McAleese launched the Forgotten Irish campaign aimed at raising awareness and substantial funds for the vulnerable and elderly Irish community in the UK.

Most of the Forgotten Irish came to Britain in the second half of the twentieth century, during one of the darkest and most impoverished periods of Ireland’s history. They paved the way for more recent generations of Irish immigrants to Britain. The majority came to find work and sent billions of pounds home to their families. Thousands of others came to escape the hardship, marginalisation and all too often, the abuse of institutional life. Many are still here, often living in isolation, poverty and deprivation – without the support of friends or family.

On why they want to support the Forgotten Irish Bernard says that “having watched a number of programmes on the Forgotten Irish I was and am always moved by the conditions that some Irish people are living in. A number of close relations of my parents came to the UK in the 50’s and 60’s. For those who have been ‘forgotten’ I believe we, as a nation, owe them something better.”

To show your support please visit http://www.justgiving.com/1039miles and keep an eye on this blog for updates.