Town Hall Date for Fun Tour Cyclists

Friday, December 14, 2012
Town Hall date tonight for fun tour cyclists.The Mayor of Ballymena Mr. P.J. Mc.Avoy plays host to the cyclists who took part in the autumn and winter series of Ballymena Road Club fun cycle tours at a special reception in the Town Hall early in the New Year, with 8th or 9th January the most likely date.
This year’s series produced 73 medalists with 26 earning bronze for five tours, while 23 won silver for eight tours and another 24 attained gold for eleven or more. Nine cyclists achieved full attendance, namely, Martin Ruddy, Danny O’Loan, Pius McKernan, Iris Grant, Sean and John Elliott, Jim Doherty, Maura Bradley and Rex Bonar.Record collection for Chernobyl Children.John and Eleanor Duffin of the Chernobyl Children’s appeal NI, the chosen charity of this year’s fun tour series, will also be present to accept a cheque for £1015, which was the total donated by the fun tour entrants and by those who had taken part in the Nine Glens Challenge in July. Several non-cyclists also donated to the fund. Ballymena Road Club first became involved with the "CCA” through their touring committee member Martin McKernan who, along with his wife Jennie, acted as a host family for the children. "After Martin died the club’s touring section decided that it would be a fitting memorial to him if the club carried on his fund raising efforts and here we are, twelve years later, still keeping his name and memory alive.”"The CCA is a totally voluntary organisation with no paid personnel. All the money is used to bring children from Belarus to NI for a "holiday” in our healthy environment. The host families are also volunteers and they too receive no remuneration.”"These visits greatly extend the life expectancy of the children whose homeland is still contaminated following the destruction of the nuclear power plant in 1986.” explained one of the fun tour organisers