Connacht Rugby is putting the finishing touches to a provincial-wide charity cycle on Saturday August 13th, in aid of Sligo native Claire Carpenter.
Claire, who’s 35 and the partner of Ross Mannon (Rugby Participation Officer with Connacht Rugby and former Head Coach of the Connacht Women’s team) suffered a stroke in February of this year.
As she continues her road to recovery, significant funds need to be raised to allow her to continue her rehabilitation and eventually lead an independent life at home.
This has prompted friends and colleagues to undertake a major fundraising drive this year – one strand of which is Connacht Rugby’s charity cycle.
Ocean FM Sport’s Austin O’Callaghan spoke to Connacht Rugby’s Joe Gorham and Sligo’s Charlie Harrison (who’s a good friend of the Mannion family) about what’s planned on August 13th.
The 218km cycle from The Sportsground to Sligo RFC will involve both Connacht staff members and club volunteers, all with the aim of raising much-needed funds.
It will begin at The Sportsground in Galway in the early hours of Saturday , August 13th, and will finish at Sligo RFC.
The route will take in all five counties with stops in Ballinrobe Co. Galway, Ballyhaunis Co. Mayo, Frenchpark Co. Roscommon, Carrick-on-Shannon Co. Leitrim, and finally Ross and Claire’s home in Coolaney Co. Sligo, before the final stretch to Sligo RFC.
Taking part in the cycle will be representatives from clubs around Connacht, as well as a number of Connacht Rugby staff members including Andy Friend and Eric Elwood.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to support Claire and her family.
You can make a donation here.
