Karina’s Irish Cycling Fundraiser

As many of you know, I started a road cycling journey in September 2024. I joined the Birmingham Irish Cycling Appeal (BICA) and spent my evenings and weekends cycling up and down the lanes of Henley, Wythall and Knowle alongside other routes along Birmingham’s canal network. 

My love for the two wheels continued to grow and I eventually bit the bullet, purchased a new bike, lycra outfits and started using cleats. This required plenty of practise and breaking my normal cycling routines. 

Overall, my fitness has improved and I have felt confident enough to take on more and more challenges on the roads of the UK the Republic of Ireland. These have included: Night Ride London 2025, Inisherin 100 Mile, Birdlip Training Weekend and other cycling sportifs. 

Right now, I am gearing up for my greatest cycling challenge up to this point. In July, I will take on a 700 mile cycle along Ireland’s East Coast passing through many famous locations. We will begin our journey at the Giant’s Causeway and will peddle onward for 7 days before applying the brakes in Cork. I will certainly have to find some time to kiss the Blarney Stone afterwards. 

There are number of charities that our group will be raising money for.
Being something very close to my heart, I have elected to put forward my support for the St Giles Trust. This is a fantastic charity trust that offers valuable support to those individuals who are facing tremendous social challenges. These can include: homelessness, addiction, poverty, mental health issues or those caught up in the criminal justice system. I nominated the St Giles Trust as a result of my experiences in my last 20 years of work. I have worked alongside many people who have experienced these challenges. I have been able to see first hand the impact they can have but also why groups, such as the St Giles Trust, play a vital role in Birmingham to be a source of comfort. 

Before I climb onto the saddle, I have set a target of £1000 to reach over the next month. Any donation, big or small, from my family and friends will be warmly received.