Organised by the charity Just A Chat, the team aimed to cycle 237 mile (1 mile for every suicide recorded in NI in 2021) and they managed to cycle 282 mile with one hour to spare.
Conor Hegarty from Just A Chat and who organised the event said: “We had great support on the day from local kids, football clubs, charities, youth groups and much more. One of our fundraisers, Paul Beattie, cycled an incredible 80 miles on the day for us.
"Also we had a competition open to all local clubs and groups – A team of two cycled for 15 minutes and whatever team cycled the most miles won a £300 sponsorship package for new equipment. This was won by local Charity The Fitzone Foundation based in Legahory, Craigavon.
"The main part of our awareness campaign was to distribute leaflets which had information on local Mental Health Services that could help anyone in an emergency either with Mental Health Issues or Suicidal Thoughts.”
"Also we had a competition open to all local clubs and groups – A team of two cycled for 15 minutes and whatever team cycled the most miles won a £300 sponsorship package for new equipment. This was won by local Charity The Fitzone Foundation based in Legahory, Craigavon.
![All ages took part in a charity cycle event in Asda, Portadown to raise vital funds for local charity Just A Chat, which was set up to raise awareness and combat the stigma of mental health for youths.](https://www.northernirelandworld.com/webimg/b25lY21zOjUwOWM1YWFlLTZlNGYtNDFkNy1hYTlhLTM3MzJjZTc2NzcyYTo1Y2ExOTRkMy02ZGQyLTRiMDgtYmJkNi1lNDVmYjNiMzdhMDk=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
5. Young and older take on the cycle challenge
All ages took part in a charity cycle event in Asda, Portadown to raise vital funds for local charity Just A Chat, which was set up to raise awareness and combat the stigma of mental health for youths. Photo: Contributed
![Charity cycle event gets the thumbs up from this participant. The event was to raise money for the local charity Just A Chat which was set up to raise awareness and combat the stigma of mental health for youths. The team cycled 282 miles to raise vital funds at a special event in Portadown’s Asda.](https://www.northernirelandworld.com/webimg/b25lY21zOjgwMzQ5NjQxLTk1YTAtNGE1MS1iOTBmLWZkMGY0MDdmZWUwMjo2M2M2NTRiNi1hMjU1LTRjOTgtYmRiNS1jMGIyMTVmN2Y2NzQ=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
6. Thumbs up for the charity cycle
Charity cycle event gets the thumbs up from this participant. The event was to raise money for the local charity Just A Chat which was set up to raise awareness and combat the stigma of mental health for youths. The team cycled 282 miles to raise vital funds at a special event in Portadown’s Asda. Photo: Contributed
![A happy quartet taking part in the charity cycle event at Asda in Portadown to raise funds for local charity Just A Chat which was set up to raise awareness and combat the stigma of mental health for youths. The team helped cycle 282 miles.](https://www.northernirelandworld.com/webimg/b25lY21zOjEzMzQzZmQzLWQ4MjctNDAzNC05NWU0LWI4ZWM0MDA0NjM4ODo5M2Q4M2VjZS04MmIwLTRlOGEtODE2OS1iNDI3ZDdiMjkzZjU=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
7. Flexing muscles helps with the cycling challenge
A happy quartet taking part in the charity cycle event at Asda in Portadown to raise funds for local charity Just A Chat which was set up to raise awareness and combat the stigma of mental health for youths. The team helped cycle 282 miles. Photo: Contributed
![Young man and older man both join the team to cycle 282 miles at Asda in Portadown in order to raise money for local charity, Just A Chat, which was set up to raise awareness and combat the stigma of mental health for youths.](https://www.northernirelandworld.com/webimg/b25lY21zOjM5ZDA5MjQwLTRlYmEtNDliNS05MjYzLWIyZjNhY2IwMDUzNzo5ZDg3YmU3My01MjJhLTQ3N2YtYTc0Ny1iN2RiOTk5NjlkMmM=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
8. Doing their bit to cycle in aid of Just A Chat charity
Young man and older man both join the team to cycle 282 miles at Asda in Portadown in order to raise money for local charity, Just A Chat, which was set up to raise awareness and combat the stigma of mental health for youths. Photo: Contributed