The James Elliott 'Bridges of Hope' Community Cycle

BALLYMONEY Cycling Club are in conjunction with the Community Rescue Service (Bush Division) are organising three cycle runs to suit everyone on the 21st of August in Stranocum.

This is on the anniversary of the tragic death of 14 year old local schoolboy James Elliott. James lost his life in the swollen waters of the River Bush as he along with another lad tried to rescue a pet Labrador.

In the search for James the Community Rescue Service a little known voluntary organisation along with locals and other organisations searched day and night until they found James’s body.

Ballymoney CC representatives Charlie Dickson, Colin Thompson and Maurice McAllister visited Clive and Margaret Elliott at their home and offered to arrange this event to raise funds for the CRS. Mr and Mrs Elliott along with CRS fundraising co-ordinator Debbie McCrellis came along to the BCC meeting last Tuesday night and gave a talk to the members.

At times this meeting was in heavy silence as Margaret Elliott explained to the stunned audience exactly what they were trying to achieve. The magnitude of the commitment of these people is at times hard to fathom as they cover the waterways and forests in our local community.

Reluctant to disclose a great detail of their efforts it is easy to grasp that each volunteer may at sometime have experienced a tragedy in their own lives and is attempting to put something back into the voluntary organisation.

The commitment is astonishing and each of the members present vowed that whatever they could do would be done to help raise funds at this event.

At 1pm on Saturday 21st August there will be three cycle runs, 3.5 mile, 9.5mile and 22 mile, crossing the ‘Bridges of Hope’ over the River Bush at certain memorable points.

Everyone is invited to attend and lend their support.

For more details contact Charlie Dickson on 07841560526 or Maurice McAllister on 07707088396 or visit www.ballymoneycyclingclub.com

All cyclists, owners of bicycles and cycling clubs are invited to help at this memorable event that next year is planned to be an annual event with a Challenge distance added.