Cruising from Darkness Into Light for Pieta House
A CHARITY motorcycle event led by a Tallaght man received a fundraising boost of €5,000 from Joe Duffy Motoradd when it was launched last week.
Called Cruising from Darkness into Light for Pieta House, the event will see bikers leaving Top Oil at the Spawell at 5am on Saturday, May 11, and finishing at Kilmore Quay Harbour in Wexford.
The event has been organised by GT24, which includes Fettercairn man Damian Sheridan, South Dublin Bikers and North Dublin Bikers to raise funds for mental health charity Pieta House.
At a launch event in Joe Duffy Motorrad in Charlestown on Saturday, the event’s official sponsor, Joe Duffy Motorrad, surprised the organisers by presenting them with a cheque for €5,000.
Organiser Damian Sheridan told The Echo: “The launch was good craic.
“It was unbelievable that Joe Duffy Motorrad would give us extra money, it was a really nice surprise.
“The launch was in the showroom in Joe Duffy Motors and there was a good buzz around the place.”
Damian and the rest of the organising committee are now focusing their energy on the event itself, after previously running successful motorbike rides in aid of youth mental health service Jigsaw.
When asked why this year’s event is in aid of Pieta House, Damian explained: “I have past experience with Pieta House and found them very helpful, and wanted to do something to give back.
“We’re really looking forward to [the motorbike ride].
“It’s taken off massively – we have 150 bikers confirmed and over 500 are interested, so I expect on the day there will be about 300.
“It’s open to anybody that has a motorbike, a quad or a trike.”
Prior to the €5,000 donation from Joe Duffy Motorrad, the group had already raised €1,200 and they hope to continue to increase their tally in lead up to and during the motorbike ride.
Damian added that the biker community is one that routinely gets behind charitable causes and praised their willingness to get involved.
“Nine times out of ten, if you see a bunch of bikers together, they’re normally doing a fundraiser for somebody,” he said.
“The motorbike community gets behind all of those fundraisers, every time.
“The fundraisers are always so successful.
“It’s an amazing community and every week they’re holding fundraising events – there’s always something going on.”
To donate, visit the Cruising from Darkness into Light GoFundMe page HERE and for more information visit the Cruising from Darkness into Light Facebook page HERE.
Pieta provides 24/7 support via the freephone crisis helpline on 1800 247 247 or text HELP to 51444
