Diocesan News17 Aug 15

Are you signed up for the Tour de Foyle?

The final countdown is on as leaders of the main churches in the North West invite people to get on their bikes or put on their running shoes and take part in this year’s ‘Tour de Foyle’ Charity Challenge, which will set off from the new Foyle Arena on Saturday 29th August.

The event is being planned by the North West Methodist Mission and the Churches Trust, and is supported by the four church leaders in Derry–Londonderry. It will build on last year’s inaugural ‘Tour de Foyle’ which attracted 140 cyclists. Through their participation and donations from the wider community the event raised £4,000 for the churches’ homeless and food bank projects. This year participants will have a choice between a 50 mile cycle and a 10k fun run.

50 mile Charity Cycle

Cyclists will undertake a scenic lap of Lough Foyle. Leaving from the Foyle Arena, they will cycle to Magilligan where, after a brief ‘pit stop’, they will board the ferry across to Greencastle. The route will then proceed back to the city, crossing the Peace Bridge into St Columb’s Park before finishing back at the Foyle Arena.

Building on the growing trend towards getting fit and healthy living, the idea is simply to bring people together from all the communities across our city and beyond, to raise badly–needed funds for two very worthy, local causes. It is a fun event and open to everyone, from beginners to more experienced cyclists. The main emphasis is on taking part.

10K Charity Run

Given the surge in running in the North West, organisers have decided to incorporate a 10k run into this year’s event. Like the cycle, it’s all about participation and, again, open to everyone from the novice to the seasoned athlete. It, too, will set off from the Foyle Arena, following a scenic route incorporating the Peace Bridge and the Foyle Bridge before finishing back at the Foyle Arena.

By taking part in the either of the Tour De Foyle Charity Challenge events, you will be helping people in your own community who are experiencing difficult times in their lives and working with the help of our charities to get things back on track. So please help us to continue to help them by getting on your bike or putting on your running shoes on Saturday 29th August 2015.

Registration is now open and will close on Wednesday 26th August, so book early to avoid disappointment. Visit www.tourdefoyle.co.uk for further details. We also encourage people to engage with our facebook site www.facebook.com/tourdefoyle

The wider community can also get behind the fundraiser and make a donation by visiting mydonate.bt.com/events/tourdefoylecycle

Information on the event promoters:

North West Methodist Mission (NWMM)

NWMM has been providing services to homeless men in the city for 80 years and prides itself on helping service–users to help themselves. We provide temporary accommodation, training and re–skilling, advocacy, resettlement and tenancy support. We also provide outreach work and a drop–in facility for clients who have found a roof over their heads that they can once again call home.

The Churches Trust – Pantry Project

The Churches’ Trust is an interdenominational organisation established by the leaders of Christian churches to respond to deprivation in the area. Among the many projects of the Churches’ Trust is the Pantry Project, a foodbank established to provide an emergency response to feed families and individuals who have reached a temporary crisis situation.

The Churches’ Trust supports local people in crisis, respecting their dignity at all times, whilst signposting them to community groups and other agencies to address circumstances leading to the crisis situation.