In its most ambitious fundraiser undertaken to date, the Lough Derg Lifeboat Station drew out hundreds of people to Lap the Lake recently.
The highly successful charity cycle saw approximately 250 people come out to tackle the 130km route around the lake coast.
The cycle, which took place on May 8, started and finished at the Lifeboat Station in Dromineer, with the route giving participants the chance to take in the beautiful scenery of Lough Derg and the River Shannon.
The riders’ safety and well-being were well catered for with First Aid providers, out-riders, marshals, and bike maintenance stops along the route, as well as comfort and refreshments stations.
Niamh McCutcheon, event organiser and fundraiser for the station, said that the inaugural Lap the Lake was enjoyed by cyclists from around the country.
“The friendly welcome provided by the Marshall’s, RNLI crew and the enthusiastic and well organised committee was much appreciated by all”
Mrs. McCutcheon thanked Lough Derg Yacht Club and all the sponsors of the event, whose generosity also ensured its success.
The volunteer lifeboat crew of helm Owen Cavanagh, Doireann Kennedy, Joe O’Donoghue, Ciara Moylan, Ania Skrzypczynska, and Ciara Lynch, worked in shifts throughout the day.
They brought the lifeboat Jean Spier to the public harbour in Dromineer and to other harbours around the lake, and were pleased to answer questions about the RNLI, its life-saving work and of course the lifeboat itself.
The Lough Derg Lifeboat Station was opened in 2004 to safeguard people on the waters of the lake, one of 46 such stations in Ireland.
Despite working closely with agencies such as the Coast Guard, the RNLI is an independent non-profit organisation, and almost completely reliant on donations to continue its lifesaving work.
Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, the charity has saved over 142,700 lives in Ireland and the UK.
