Cheque this out
By Hayden Moore
THE LAURELS Cycle Crew are putting the wheels in motion for another busy year after presenting Children’s Medical and Research Foundation (CMRF) Crumlin with almost €10,000 last Friday night.
A total of €9,882.30 was handed over to Gerry Cully of CMRF, which was raised through the Cycle Crew’s Santa Cycle last December, in a cheque presentation in The Laurels Pub.
Just a few months after the Laurels Cycle Crew crossed the figure of €1 million in aid of Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital – the annual Santa Cycle saw close to 400 people cycle from Phoenix Park to Clondalkin Village.
Established 12 years ago by Laurels’ bar manager Damien Long and head barman Denis McCarthy, The Laurels Cycle Crew are showing no signs of stopping.
Speaking to The Echo about what keeps them so dedicated to the cause even after crossing the €1m milestone, Denis said: “It’s just the community spirit in Clondalkin.
“Everybody comes together for this one cause, everybody is working towards one goal, and it is really just good fun.
“It is absolutely fantastic to be able to do something positive in the community and to be able to contribute to improving children’s health – there is just something special about that.”
:Gerry Cully (CMRF), Damien Long, Cathal Harling, Denis McCarthy and Tony Lawlor
Every year since it was first started, they host two cycle events, a Galway to Dublin event around Easter time and the aforementioned Santa Cycle at Christmas.
Registration through www.eventbrite.ie has opened for the Galway to Dublin two-day cycle, which is expected to feature 200 cyclists. Weekly training sessions have already started.
“People are already in training, out on their bikes, getting ready for the Galway to Dublin cycle,” said Denis.
Gerry Cully (CMRF), Brendan Cross, Joe Moran, Gerry Browne and Damien Long from the Laurels
“We have a few signed up already, so we’re just looking forward to that now.”
To follow The Laurels Cycle Crew as they ramp up preparations for the 220km trek from coast to coast, check them out on Facebook.
