350 South Cycle Challenge in loving memory of a wonderful Grandmother aims to raise €100,000 for The Carers Association
On July 15th 2011, Ian Lacey and Lee Saville will begin a cycling challenge from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska – the northernmost point accessible by road in the Americas – to Ushuaia,Tierra del Fuego, Argentina – the southernmost city in the world. Their journey will involve pedalling through 15 countries, scaling 3 mountain ranges and battling blistering desert heat and freezing winter cold.
Click here to read why Ian chose to support The Carers Association:
Ian says it was an easy decision to support the work of The Carers Association when he began planning his trip, “I was a part-time carer for my grandmother Elizabeth, along with my mother who was her full time carer, for many years until she passed away in 2008. Lily moved into our family home in Wexford before I was born and during the final years of her life needed constant care to make sure she could stay as healthy and happy as possible from day to day. My mother, wanting to be her primary caregiver, gave up full time employment as a nurse to remain in the home and look after Lily. This meant a huge reduction in financial earnings, foregoing any semblance of a normal social life for years and being ‘on call’ to my grandmother’s needs - day and night. Although this was a very strenuous life to lead, the compassion, love and support my gran received at home was perhaps the major factor in her living until 90 years of age.
“I have seen the benefits that being cared for at home had for Lily, but I have also seen the difficulty and strain it caused for my mother. Although certain services such as in-home respite and Carer’s Allowance exist for certain people, they only go a fraction of the way to improve the lives of Irish carers. Unfortunately, when the need is greatest for them, the system is the weakest.”
Support Ian's Challenge
Ian and Lee will finish their journey in 350 days and want to meet Irish diaspora en route and encourage them to get on their bikes and travel parts with them. You can support Ian’s challenge here at home by visiting www.350South.org to make a donation, post your donation payable to The Carers Association at Market Square, Tullamore, Co. Offaly or contact Emma Murphy, National Fundraising Manager at 086 040 3652.
Ian aged 16 with his grandmother Elizabeth
