Full marks to the cycling Sirs

Full marks to the cycling Sirs

19 March 2014

TWO Ballynahinch school teachers will test their endurance to the limit when they undertake a cycle from the tip to the toe of Ireland with a challenging twist. Paul Marks and Richard Mottram, from Ballynahinch High School, are planning to cycle the 430-mile route from Mizen Head to Malin Head on Good Friday — and in a unique twist on the challenge, they aim to complete their route in just 30 hours.

The two teachers have agreed to undertake the cycle to raise money for the Mourne Mountain Rescue team as well as for education technology equipment for pupils at the school.

Mr. Marks who is a full-time member of the Mourne Mountain Rescue Team, said he believed the cycle would be a fantastic opportunity for the two cyclists to make a difference to the school, while helping the local rescue service.

The school has organised a number of events to raise money for the challenge including bun sales, quiz nights and sponsored walks. There will also be a craft fair in April, which will be open to the general public.

Both men are already in training for the challenge, which will begin on Good Friday.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for us to make a difference to the school and to the mountain rescue service,” said Mr. Marks.

“We will be pushing ourselves further than we ever expected.”

“We hope that other mountain rescue teams in Ireland will join us for certain legs of the journey, which will help us keep awake during night-time cycling.”

The cycle will begin at Mizen Head in County Cork at 11am on Good Friday and the teachers hope to be in Malin Head for the next day at 5pm.

To plot their progress, and to hear about their training, you can follow them on twitter @Mizen2malin2014 and on facebook Mizen2malin2014.