Ballymoney Cycling Club in Children's Heart Charity Ride

This event is being held this Saturday 23rd starting at Richhill Recreation Centre, signing on is from 9.15am. First riders are off at 10.00am.

The riders will cover a distance of 70 miles, with other choices of 55 and 25 mile.

Proceeds will also go to the Clark Clinic of the Royal Victoria hospital Belfast.

Robbie Cascone Cody Gallagher 2008-2009. Cody was the son of FBD Ras winner Stephen Gallagher, who sadly died on the 17th December 2009, only one year old. Ballymoney CC at the time extended their support to Judith and Stephen and the Immediate family.

The club now wants to be part of this opportunity to continue the fight started. I feel it is only right to share with everyone how the Cody Challenge came about. This is explained by family friend and cyclist Paul Smith, Ards CC.

"Robbie Cascone Cody Gallagher 2008 -2009. The true founder of Fighting Chance! Cody Gallagher 06th November 2008 – 17th December 2009.

"Many people have asked about the origins of Fighting Chance so I thought I would put pen to paper and explain how this all began.

"The idea was born in Richhill over a few beverages in November 2009. All it took was "I've got an idea" and the foundations had been set. But what was this idea? "The idea was to raise money and awareness for Clark Clinic through Heartbeat NI.

"Heartbeat is a Parent Support Group for families of children who have heart disease. "And what concerned me more, is that heart disease is now the most common problem at birth in Northern Ireland, with an excess of 200 babies born here each year with a heart disorder.

"To the person in the street, heart disease is a broken heart. Indeed this is only one of a number of defects which can occur.

"All the children living in Northern Ireland with heart disease are treated at Clark Clinic in the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children.

"So why did we choose Heartbeat NI? Very simply, because of Cody Gallagher.

"Cody was the son of very close friends, Stephen and Judith Gallagher. Cody was diagnosed with cardiac myopathy at an extremely young age.

"From birth, the staff at the Clark Clinic were phenomenal with the level of care and support, not only for Cody, but also for Stephen and Judith.

"The doctors and nurses within the clinic are more than what their roles suggest, they crossed the patient-doctor divide and became close friends.

"So soon after Cody had celebrated his 1st birthday, it was decided that something had to be done to give back to the tireless effort of the Clark Clinic staff, and also to raise awareness of this little known, but prevalent condition.

"So over our few beverages I suggested to Stephen and close friend Dominic Toner that we needed to do something, and that something was to put together a team to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. Stephen agreed instantly (most likely because he is as nuts as I am), and once we were both in, we didn't let Dominic have a decision.

"Within four weeks, what started as an idea shared with two of my best friends, had spiralled into close to 40 people wanting to join us. "This is in no way due to the experience of climbing Kilimanjaro. The level of support is solely due to the amount of people both Stephen and Judith have helped through their lives.

"And if dragging yourself up a 6000m high mountain is what was needed to show our support, then that is the least we could do.

"With this, the group Fighting Chance was born. In addition to the climb, a charity cycling event was organised by the Juiced Orchard Cycling Club, based in Richhill.

"Again, this is another association to which Stephen has dedicated much of his time to. The event, known as Cody's Challenge was put together in the early weeks of December 2009, to be held in early January 2010. Sadly, just as our support group had been born, the soul of the group was taken from us.

"In the early hours on the 17th December 2009, Cody Gallagher quietly slipped into God's hands, leaving a hole much larger than the physical space he occupied, after only being with us for 13 months. At this point, it seemed as though there was no reason to carry on, life itself, had no more meaning. However, even in his passing, Cody taught us all the most valuable lesson we could have ever learnt. That it is better to live, than to just be alive.

"People were brought together from every corner of the world, covering continents and countries that Cody had never dreamed of seeing.

"The support which was shown in the days following, encapsulated everything that Cody lived for. It was only through the doctor's reports and examinations that we could see the battle which Cody was fighting. Because when you looked at Cody, he showed you he was the happiest and most ponderous little boy you could ever see.

"Unlike so many of us, Cody never showed his anger at what God had put him through. His battle face was a cheeky grin and twinkling eyes.

"Cody showed us that perhaps we place too much emphasis on how bad we think life is. He showed us that we should appreciate what we do have, and spend more time being thankful for life's simple pleasures.

!He provided hope to those whom hope had long since deserted, and he inspired the un-inspirable. So rest in peace brave Cody.

"But for the rest of us still here, we must remember it's the little things that you do that can make a big difference.

"What are you attempting to accomplish? What little thing can you do today that will make a difference? Do you know you are probably only one step away from greatness. What exactly are you fighting for?"

Arrangements for transport to the Cody Challenge start this Saturday. Anyone who feels that they would like to come along with the Ballymoney CC riders and lend their help to this worthy cause. For details contact Club PRO Maurice McAllister on 07707088396 or Secretary Bobby Kane on 07709647330.

Club members can find out more details later in the week on the club website and message board. Web address www.ballymoneycyclingclub.com

Update on 2010 race season Riders' preparation!

Ballymoney Cycling Club riders were on the roads again with some of the club groups doing 170 miles plus over the two days.

Ballymoney Cycling Club would like to thank Dervock and Ballymoney man Hughie McConaghie. Hughie who also was a member of the Bann Wheelers along with club public relations man, Maurice McAllister back in the late 70s early 80s. He was an international rider of outstanding ability, competing in the

Tour of Ireland and all the other prestigious events at that time. Hughie came out with one of the groups on Sunday and his experience and knowledge of cycling will be nothing else but a benefit to the Ballymoney Club.

Parents with teenagers interested in getting involved with Ballymoney Cycling Club can be sure that the structure is in place to secure their development in

Warning to cyclists

This is a short note to new people getting involved in the sport of cycling. Do not listen to all the stories you hear from other longer established cyclists about the distances and speeds they travel at!

Other cyclists sometimes tend to exaggerate the speed they ride at and quote average MPH that is far from accurate.

Professional cyclists and I have this from a Professional cyclist, he told me that at this time of the year they average on a 70-90 mile run approximately 17 mph.

This I will add is not being done in cold conditions like we have here in Northern Ireland. Also these guys and girls are full time at this and do not have a full time job!

So new to the sport, get the correct advice and information and get into a group that has experienced riders who know how to encourage and help new people.

We are here to encourage new people into the sport, especially the young as they are the future of cycling.

Weekend Club Runs

For those not going to Armagh to the Cody Challenge, the Saturday run will leave from OUTDOOR LIFE at 9.30am and Sunday from the Ballymoney Rugby Club car park at 9.30am.

On the Sunday run there will be two groups, so invite anyone along. Regardless of their fitness or type of bike, let's just get started cycling.

Any questions contact Nat Magee – 07885426369 or Bobby Kane - 07709647330.