WEXFORD SHOWED its true colours when it welcomed and waved off over 700 cyclists taking part in this year’s Cycle Against Suicide – a huge chunk of whom were students.
Traffic came to a standstill on the roads around St. Peter’s College on Thursday evening last and while car horns began to ring out in unison, they were all in support of the large peloton which wound its way into St. Peter’s College to a fanfare welcome.
The following morning, there was a huge crowd in St. Peter’s College for an awareness event headed up by Jim Breen, founder of Cycle Against Suicide. He urged those present to heed the slogan of Cycle Against Suicide: ‘It’s ok not to feel ok and it’s absolutely ok to ask for help.’
Cllr. George Lawlor also spoke on behalf of Marine Watch and local musician Johnny Stewart entertained the crowd with music.
After that, it was back to the bikes as over 600 cyclists including many members of staff and students from St. Peter’s College got back on the road, heading for Gorey.
This year was the fourth year of the iconic event and Cycle Against Suicide ambassador for Wexford Vincent Byrne said that it was getting bigger every year with the involvement from schools rapidly increasing. He commended all those who came out to welcome the group saying that it had created a really special atmosphere.
In his own blog, which he updated daily along the 14-day cycle, he said: “What can I say? If I live to be 100 I will not forget the two days we travelled through Wexford – phenomenal, humbling, amazing, inspiring.”
The cycle travelled on through Curracloe, Blackwater, Kilmuckridge, Ballygarrett, Riverchapel, Gorey and onto Arklow and he described the atmosphere of the trip as a “combination of City Marathon, All Ireland Day and Olympic Gold Medal Homecoming.”
Vincent added that the awareness of the event in Wexford was huge because of the great work done by so many people involved with Cycle Against Suicide and challenged people to listen to the message being spread and to those who sought help:
“Anyone who thinks this conversation about our emotional wellbeing will end; anyone who thinks investment in mental health services is not needed or wanted; anyone who thinks this is a matter of little importance, you did not travel this road today.
“We have travelled through the dark night, a new dawn is breaking. Let us tell our stories, let us end the silence, let us street by street, estate by estate, club by club, workplace by workplace let it be known it’s ok not to feel ok and it’s absolutely ok to ask for help.”
