Cycling pharmacists raise 10000 for mental health charities
More than 50 pharmacists from across Ireland raised some €10,000 for mental health charity First Fortnight with their cycle from Dublin to Galway last weekend.
Mullingar pharmacists John and Robert Keane, led the Frontline Cycle, and were joined by Eamonn Brady of Whelehans Pharmacy and Joanne Moran from Mullingar Hospital, as well as businessmen Ronan McNamara, Ted Wright and Paul Thompson.
They cycled more than 230km on Friday and Saturday July 17-18, from the Phoenix Park in Dublin at 9am on the Friday to the Connaught Hotel in Galway on the Saturday afternoon.
The Irish Pharmacy Union’s IPU Review journal is the official media partner for the Frontline Cycle.
This year the, local pharmacists chose to raise funds for Good2Talk and First Fortnight, which is a mental health charity aimed at challenging mental health stigma.
First Fortnight organises an arts festival every January and provides an art therapy service for members of the homeless community.
In 2011, the Frontline Cycle raised more than €9,000 for the Irish Cancer Society’s Action Prostate charity; and more than €12,000 was raised for the same charity in 2013 as pharmacists again got on their bikes, that time to raise awareness of Ovarian Cancer.
The Frontline Cycle is organised by Mullingar-based pharmacists and brothers, John and Robert Keane.
Speaking after the event, Robert said: “We’re all tired and a little sore after a tough 230km, but we’re thrilled to have raised so much for Good2Talk and First Fortnight.
“It’s great to see so many pharmacists from Mullingar and across the country give up their time, and put in such huge effort, for such a worthy cause.
“As pharmacists, mental health is an area where we work closely with our patients every day and we are delighted to support Good2Talk, a local counselling service, run solely through volunteers, and First Fortnight and their aim to help reduce the stigma surrounding mental health in Ireland.
“We’ve had huge support from sponsors once again and would like to take this opportunity to thank them and everyone who participated. We’ll hope to see everyone again next year.”