Diocesan News
Charity cycle planned for Antrim Rural Deanery
David Holmes, a parish reader in Kilbride Parish, Diocese of Connor, is planning L’Étape du Deanery – a sponsored cycle in aid of Northern Ireland Chest, Heart and Stroke.
Taking place on Saturday September 4, the route will take in all 14 parish churches in the deanery and cover a total distance of 75 miles in one day.
He is appealing to cyclists who are members of any of the 14 churches in the deanery to join him – if not for the entire circuit, then for sections between churches.
Outlining the proposed route, David said: “It will start and finish at Christ Church, Ballynure, going on a circular route around all 14 churches in the rural deanery. Furthest churches are Gartree near Crumlin, Ballyscullion near Randalstown and Kells. There is an option to only do a section of the route for those who don’t want to try the full distance.”
David is a keen cyclist and a former rugby player. He had hoped to organise something like this last year, but had to defer due to the pandemic. “With so many people taking to bikes since Covid–19 started, it is growing in popularity as a sport,” he said.
He emphasised that although the full 75–mile route was ‘not for the faint–hearted’ he would very much like to involve all parishes in the rural deanery. “People are welcome to sign up for just one leg,” he stressed.
Anyone who is interested in taking part in this challenge and supporting NI Chest, Heart and Stroke – which celebrates its 75th anniversary this year – is asked to contact David by email at david22holmes@gmail.com or on his mobile: 07899 666222.
If you would like to sponsor David and his fellow cyclists, you can make a donation here.
For further information please contact:
Diocesan Communications Officer, Connor
07766 103880
Mrs Karen Bushby
dco@connordiocese.org