It’s a long way from Killeshin and Graiguecullen to Sydney.
And it’s even longer to Wollongong!
But four Laois lads were part of a huge fundraising effort in Australia on Saturday as they undertook the 100km cycle from Sydney to Wollongong in aid of the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association (IMNDA).
Leading the charge was Stephen Attride from Killeshin, the former Laois football captain who is now living in Sydney. Stephen’s dad Mark passed away in 2015 from Motor Neurone Disease and the charity cycle in his honour has become an annual event in both Ireland and Australia.
On Saturday morning over 20 Irish people living in Sydney took part in the event, including Graiguecullen twins Conor and James O’Regan as well as former St Joseph’s footballer Michael Byrne.
The group met at famed Sydney Opera House at 5.30am, posing for pictures there and at the Harbour Bridge before cycling by Centenniel Park and heading for Brighton le Sands.
They then went through National Park, over Sea Cliff Bridge and met at the finish line at Wollongong Lighthouse.
Former LaoisToday photographer Julie Anne Miller was on hand to capture images at both the start and finish of the cycle – travelling with Mayoman Shane Keane and Florence Doherty from Kerry who were driving the support van for the group.
Needless to say there was a celebratory atmosphere at the finish line – and party atmosphere in Wollongong for the night!
You can donate to the fundraiser here.
Those who took part in the event included:
- Aaron Foley (Mayo)
- Brendan Browne (Kerry)
- Conor O’Regan (Laois)
- Cormac Walsh (Kerry)
- Ciaran Moran (Carlow)
- Christy Alwyard (Tipperary)
- James O’Regan (Laois)
- Joe Kinihan (Kildare)
- Kevin Lee (Leitrim)
- Kevin Walsh (Mayo)
- Laura Brudell (Roscommon)
- Linda Lodge (Limerick)
- Michael Byrne (Laois)
- Michael Carey (Mayo)
- Michael McWeeney (Leitrim)
- Sarah Tierney (Mayo)
- Sean Dalton (Meath)
- Sean Devanney (Sligo)
- SJ Cody (Tipperary)
- Tim Brosnan (Kerry)
- Shane Walsh (Mayo)
- Florence Doherty (Kerry)
You can check out a selection of Julie Anne’s photos below.
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