IHCPT

CYCLE TO LOURDES

1982 - 2002 TEN CYCLES
TWENTY YEARS ON THE ROAD

All set for the the final few kilometres in to Lourdes
on Good Friday 2002

End of Day One: Mont St Michel.
A pleasant evening spent wandering the small streets before an early night before day two

Eamon Dunne, Anne Forde, John Hogan and Ann Queally
enjoy a moment of light relief before the final journey to Lourdes

The tenth biennial sponsored IHCPT cycle to Lourdes set many new records. Never before had there been such interest and seventy five people took part. For twelve months the byways of Ireland had become accustomed to the presence of our volunteers training in all weathers.

Earlier in the year, Sean Kelly launched the cycle in his hometown of Carrick-on-Suir. He guided the aspiring candidates for our "Tour de France" in a challenging cycle through the Blackstairs mountains, giving them some taste of what was to come. On two other occasions the cyclists gathered in Kilcuan to cycle a 60 mile training route designed by our own answer to Eddie Merck: Kilcuan Manager, Pat Jordan.

So by departure time on the Saturday before Holy Week, the cyclists were fit and ready for anything. The group flew from Dublin to Dinard – a small airport near St Malo in the north-west of France. The support crew led by cycle veteran Brendan Farrelly had arrived two days earlier by van with the bikes from Ireland via Rosslare-Cherbourg. Immediately after disembarking the cyclists mounted their bicycles and headed for the beautiful town of Le Mont-Saint-Michel where they spent the first night.

Each day the cyclists were on the road by 8 a.m. and spent from 6-10 hours in the saddle until they arrived at predetermined stops. Daily mileage varied from 66 miles (a dawdle!) to another record for the cycle – 125 miles from Chinon to Angouleme. The "Canteen Crew" led by May Shaughnessy and Patricia Galvin had the job of preparing lunch for the ravenous cyclists. Their French improved no end and they can now confidently enter a supermarket and ask for "beaucoup de pain, dix kilogrammes de jambon et cinquante bananes" (i.e enough bread to feed a medium sized village, half a ton of ham and more bananas than Dublin Zoo Monkey House use in a week).

The end of the cycle was St Michael’s Gate at the Domaine in Lourdes. The cyclists received a great welcome to Lourdes from Governors and HQ staff from HCPT. Scenes of jubiliation, tiredness, aching bones, even a bicycle consigned to the poubelle, mixed with a great sense of achievement, survival, endurance and companionship.

Cycle 2002 was a great success from many aspects. It involved 75 people whose commitment and generosity of spirit are a huge asset to the organisation. The cycle generated very positive publicity and good will. It was financially successful and has raised significant funds for the work of IHCPT. For the participants however, Cycle 2002 was a true pilgrimage. For each one the route was never easy but all were aware of the encouragement and affirmation of the group and of the prayers of our family and supporters at home. IHCPT extends deep gratitude to all who took part but also to the thousands of people who made the event such a success through their donations and sponsorship.