Sport is an increasingly important way to get the message out to young people that there will always be an alternative to suicide, no matter how dark things appear.
The Cycle against Suicide was set up last year by entrepreneur Jim Breen and aims to raise awareness and to fund 28 information workshops in schools so that people who are suffering from depression or other mental health issues can learn about where those alternatives might be.
This years ride has trebled in number and 7,500 cyclists are expected to take part in some or all of this year’s ride.
The first leg participants set out from RTE yesterday morning, arriving in Naas by lunchtime and then travelling on to Carlow.
For the remainder of this week they will hit Waterford, Cork, Killarney, Limerick and Clare.
Then next week they will complete their 14 days in the saddle through Galway, Mayo, Sligo, Donegal, Derry, Portadown and down to Dublin following the third Irish stage of the Giro d’Italia.
Cyclists can join at any of the individual legs and registration is still open at www.cycleagainstsuicide.com
The reasons to support this great cause are highlighted by the fact that, according to a survey from the European Child Safety Alliance last year Ireland has the highest rate of suicide in young females in Europe and the second highest rate of suicide in young males.
There were more than 600 deaths linked to suicide in 2012.
