Con Cunningham

To All,

It's that time of year again and I am looking for your support in our efforts to raise the much-needed funds for various charities around the midlands which include:

Birmingham Irish Dementia Care Centre

UHCW Robotic Surgery Console

Ladies Fighting Breast Cancer

Kingsbury SEN Academy

Teenage Cancer Trust

Jonathan Mulligan

Sinead O’Meara

Due to Covid we have not been able to do our annual bike ride but I am pleased to say this year we are back on the bike. We will be completing a 380 mile bike ride in Cyprus, safe to say this will be slightly warmer and drier than Ireland.

I would like to thank you for your support in the past and ask for your support again, every penny raised goes direct to our nominated charities mentioned above (further detail of these worthy causes is attached). All cyclists pay for all expenses themselves.

It is not getting any easier for me but it's worth every effort when we can help so many charities such as these.

BICA has raised a lot of money for local, national, Irish and international charities and good causes. After over 20 years of B.I.C.A charity bike rides we are almost reaching an amazing £1 million pound raised. This year we would like to hit it. With your help, we want to keep this incredible amount growing! Please donate whatever you can to all the incredible charities!

Thank you

Con

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

Jonathan is a 25 year old from Cavan who sustained a broken skull and a bleed on the brain following a quad bike accident in 2020. His injuries were life changing, severely affecting his sight and mobility. Jonathan has made a steady recovery with the assistance of Craniaa Neuro Rehab Century in Newry, and his family are fundraising for future treatment he will require on his recovery journey.

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 sever 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.