Castlewellan forest cycle in the park family event in aid of Knockevin Special School

Castlewellan forest cycle in the park family event in aid of Knockevin Special School

18 September 2019

ALL roads lead to Castlewellan Forest Park this Sunday for a special event to raise money for Knockevin Special School in Downpatrick and celebrate the benefits of cycling for everyone. 

The ‘cycle in the park’ event is being organised by the school’s Parent Staff Association to raise funds to help purchase new bikes for pupils to help them experience nature and the great outdoors.

Sunday’s all ability event — which runs from 10am until 3pm –  is being billed as a celebration of cycling and will have something for families and special needs adventurers, hard core mountain bikers, club riders, children and young people.

The event is being hosted by the Kilmegan Velo Cycling Club with its chairman, Sean Warnock, inviting all cyclists to make their way to the forest park for the event.

He said: “The aim is to get families and friends to experience cycling in a safe setting but full of adventure and we have events for all abilities.

“There will be family trail quests, agility skills for kids, a full time-trial on the red trails, special needs bikes and a Sunday club fuel stop. We have something for everyone and McConveys Cycles in Belfast have given us a professional bike mechanic for the day so you can get a once over and some advice for free.”

Knockevin parent, Tara Haughian — who is also helping organise the event — said she has been “stunned” by the reaction and the generosity the event has inspired. 

“We have had the most amazing offers, donations, and assistance from all corners,” she revealed. “Vouchers, cash prizes, food, volunteers, it really is inspiring to see how much people want to help make it a success.

“I’m a parent of Ted, a child at Knockevin and the chance for him to take part in an event like this alongside other children means a lot. I’m especially looking forward to the family trail quest; the chance to get your family or a mix of friends to head off and experience the beauty of this natural setting is fantastic.“

Tara, who is part of the Downpatrick school’s Parent Staff Association, said everyone is grateful to Kilmegan VC for fundraising for Knockevin.

“We are amazed at the generosity of all our sponsors, donators, volunteers. We have tried to keep a complete list on our Facebook page, but it keeps growing,” she revealed.

“It’s great that children, young people and adults with physical or learning disabilities visiting the forest park can have the opportunity to attend an event like this and get the chance to try out an adapted bike. 

“We are very grateful to Newry, Mourne and Down Council for letting Kilmegan Velo Club to use the adapted bikes. We have a few trikes and hand bikes in Knockevin, but it’s not enough and their upkeep can also be challenging.”

Looking ahead to Sunday Tara added: “Some people may want only a short discovery session on one of the adapted bikes and we are very grateful to the Forest Service for the use of a quieter smoother surface area to let people have a gentle introduction to cycling. For others feeling a bit more confident, a lakeside cycle might appeal with volunteers on hand to help.”

Velo Club member, Michael Donnelly, is encouraging those into their mountain biking to put their name down for the Red Trail time trial. He said Kilmegan VC volunteers will clock the riders with a £50  McConvey Cycles voucher up for grabs.

Michael said the Kilmegan Club’s junior section is running an agility course so if hills and thrills aren’t necessarily for people’s cup of tea, they might want to practice a few skills and warm up on the agility course ahead of the agility obstacle course. Sunday’s event has also secured the back of Disability Sport NI is delighted this event is happening.

Organisers have laid on a range of refreshments with donations with Shimna College parents helping with these on the day, with healthy fruit snacks provided by The Fresh Food Centre, in Castlewellan and Hales Fruit and Veg in Newcastle. 

For more information about the event email kilmeganvc@gmail.com