BICA 2022 Cyprus

Dear All,

As you may know, I am an active member in a local charity cycling group. We undertake annual gruelling bike rides to raise money for worthy local and national charities. Unfortunately, due to COVID we have been unable to do this since 2019 but thankfully this year we are back up pedalling again. This was my sixteenth year doing the BICA bike ride and my third Cyprus bike ride.

We recently completed a bike ride, where we cycled 580km around Cyprus in five days which included a day of climbing up the Troodos mountains in 30-degree heat. I am delighted to say that I was able for the challenge and managed to complete it safely. I would be most grateful for your support, it does not matter how much you give as every little counts.

The details of the charities we are supporting this year are given below: -

BICA 2022 - OUR CHARITIES

Birmingham Irish Dementia Care Centre

The Birmingham Irish Dementia Care Centre aims to provide relevant and high-quality care for people suffering with dementia, with a unique spin that is tailored to Irish people. The charity provides a personally tailored support package to each of their patrons and their families, and provides services throughout the city of Birmingham.

UHCW Robotic Surgery Console

The UHCW (University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire) are fundraising to purchase a training console for their new super keyhole surgery robot. The revolutionary machine, called Da Vinci, can perform complexed surgeries with ten times more precision than normal surgery, with enormous benefits to patients. This fund will enable future surgeons to be trained in its use, so that many more patients can benefit in the years ahead.

Ladies Fighting Breast Cancer

Ladies Fighting Breast Cancer provide outreach, fundraising and community care for women affected by breast cancer. The charity provides support workers and volunteers with a core aim of raising the importance of early detection, whilst also providing community support and raising funds for the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Trust’s Cancer Unit.

Kingsbury SEN Academy

Kingsbury Academy is a special needs school in Coventry, which provides support for pupils aged 11-14 with significant learning disabilities. The school is fundraising to provide a new onsite playground, following their old playground being condemned as unsafe in 2021.

Teenage Cancer Trust

The Teenage Cancer Trust is a pioneering service which aims to provide a ‘teenage environment’ to help young people with cancer. The charity operate specialist wards in almost all major NHS cancer treatment hospitals, and provide specialist nurses and youth support workers to help those affected though their treatment.

Jonathan Mulligan

Johnny, my nephew, is 25 years old and he sustained a broken skull and a bleed on the brain, following a quad bike accident in 2020, when he came home to help on his family farm during covid. Johnny’s injuries were life changing, Johnny is blind and paralysed on his right side. He has made steady progress, exceeding all medical expectations, with the assistance of Craniaa Neuro Rehab Century in Newry. When Johnny was sent home from hospital 14 months ago he was told he would be in the wheelchair for the rest of his days. We are proud to say that Johnny, with the right support from this amazing team at Craniaa along with his sheer hard work and perseverance, can now pull himself up using his good arm and stand for half an hour. He spends 5 hours a day doing exercise and intensive physio . Johnny’s family are fundraising for Craniaa so that others will be able to get the same help and support. We are so very proud of his determination and endurance.

Sinead O’Meara

Sinead is a 31 year old from Tipperary, who suffered life changing injuries when an escaped horse collided with her car in 2019. The accident caused a severe spinal cord injury, leaving her paralysed from the neck down. Remarkably, she has regained some of her independence, and is now able to feed, wash and dress herself, and can walk with the aid of a walker. Her family are fundraising for future treatment she will require on her recovery journey.

Many thanks in anticipation of your support,

Claire x