Switching Gears Cycling Team Laps the Lough to raise a phenomenal amount for charity…

The Switching Gears cycling team representing the electrical industry has raised a phenomenal £11,500.00 for the Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice. The 20-strong team took part in a gruelling 85-mile lap of Lough Neagh. In the end the team motto of ‘Bones heal, girls love scars, pain is temporary, glory is forever’ proved apt but for the team the important aspect was helping the hospice. Switching Gears was created after a chance conversation between Mark Goldsbrough of AJ Hurst and John Donaghy of Axon Power & Control about cycling - but neither expected it to be such a success. “Our initial target was £3,000 and we though that was being ambitious,” explained a delighted Mark. “We were all determined to complete the 85 miles and while our times varied we all made it over the finish line. But our struggles are nothing compared to what the families who use the NI Children’s Hospice have to go through and thats what kept us going. “We want to thank everyone who supported us in any way. The generosity from the electrical industry has been phenomenal and we want to place on record our appreciation to everyone who donated.”

Oliva Nash, Vice-President of NI Children’s Hospice was delighted to accept the donation, commenting “We are very grateful to Switching Gears and to everyone who supported their efforts to raise funds for us here at the Children’s Hospice. We are very grateful to the team for selecting us as their chosen charity and to receive such a substantial donation. This gift will go a long way towards helping the Children’s Hospice to care for lots more children and their families across Northern Ireland who depend on us for support and care.” Next for Switching Gears is some events next year, Mark concluded, “We want to keep it going and the plan is to enter some events next year and take it from there.”

Switching Gears was made up of: Mark Goldsbrough, John Donaghy, Graham Kitchen, Paul McGeary, Alastair hair, Stevie McCullagh, Paul Egan, Brian Wilson, Mark Ramsey, Sean O’Donnell, Brendan O’Donnell, Gordon McAvoy, Peter Robinson, Martin Brannigan, Martin McGuigan, David McCollum, Gary Donnelly, Paul Stamp, Philip Mahaffy and Gareth Hiscocks.