Carrick cyclists chalk up the miles to Lapland via Lough Neagh!

Fundraising for The Northern Ireland Children to Lapland Trust.

The team undertook the 86-mile ‘Lap of the Lough’ - with some participants tackling the quest with under five weeks training - and raised £1600 in the process.

Their Lough Neagh efforts will see them support The Northern Ireland Children to Lapland Trust (NICLT), which provides children who are terminally ill or living with life limiting conditions with a range of experiences including trips to Santa Park in Roveniemi, Lapland.

The club will also put some of the funds raised towards AA Veterans Support which provides help, advice and offers guidance to those who serve or have served in the British armed forces and their families throughout Northern Ireland.

Diane Olphert and colleagues taking part in the charity cyle.

The Lap of the Lough is just one part of Carrick Cycling Club’s mission to cycle the 2,800-mile distance between Northern Ireland and Lapland. Read here

Speaking about the event, Stephen Mullan, who lapped the lough in five hours and 23 minutes, said: “There is a massive sense of achievement among the team at Carrick Cycling Club, now we’ve completed those challenging 86 miles.

“We completed Lap of the Lough because we wanted to raise money for causes that are close to our members’ hearts. Both NI Children to Lapland Trust and AAVS are local charities that make a difference to people’s lives and we really hope our efforts help these organisations to make more of an impact on those living in Northern Ireland.

“A special thanks goes out to local club supporter Jim Adams for being taxi, mobile mechanic and a broom wagon and all those AAVS veterans who helped man the coffee stop at the halfway mark.”

AAVS was one of the two charities being supported

Diane Olphert, Treasurer NICLT, also completed the route with only five weeks training.

She said: “I’m amazed that I actually completed the 86 miles. This wouldn’t have been possible without the support of Carrick Cycling Club helping and encouraging me since I joined the team in July.

“The funds raised by everyone who took part in the event will help make wishes come true for the children we have been helping over our 12 years in operation.”

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Lap of the Lough cyclists negotiating the route.

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