Sunday 13 September 2009

A 100-mile challenge from Belfast to Coleraine

Congratulations to all the participants who took part in the 2008 Finn MacCool 100. The riders battled on through the rain but kept their spirits up, grateful for refreshments provided by Larne Borough Council at Carnfunnoch Country Park.

Our special thanks go to all the participants and to our sponsors HSBC and Macauley Ritchie. Together we anticipate the event will have raised more than £7,000 for medical research.
 
Thanks also go to Lindsay Ford for providing the support vehicles, Total Produce for all the bananas, McAtamney Butchers for providing the meat for the celebration BBQ, Brian Barrett Signs for their fabulous Take Action signs that directed the riders to Coleraine, Ulsterbus for ferrying our Belfast-bound cyclists back home, Hilden Brewery for looking after the return journey of the bikes, ensuring they made it back undamaged, Moores of Coleraine for the bubble wrap to assist this, Sainsbury, Larne Borough Council, St John Ambulance, our committee and, of course, our helpers on the day.

It was a fabulous occasion and we look forward to seeing you all again next year!

View the route on RouteYou

For those of you who have never been up the Antrim Coast, click on the link below for a little look courtesy of the Causeway Coast and Glens website:
www.causewaycoastandglens.com

Why the Finn MacCool?

In Ireland lived a gentle giant called Finn MacCool and across the sea in Scotland was a rival giant Benandonner. Benandonner challenged Finn to a fight, As Benandonner could not swim, Finn built a causeway across from Co. Antrim to Fingal’s Cave where he caught sight of the huge Benandonner. Finn was no match against the huge Scottish giant and ran back to Ireland. When Benandonner came to Ireland to take up the challenge he knocked on the door. Finn was tired from his efforts of building the causeway and running all the way back and was asleep. Finn’s quick-witted wife Oonagh covered him with a nightgown and bonnet and when Benandonner saw the ‘baby’ he panicked. If Finn’s baby was this big, how much bigger must Finn be? He did not stay to find out... He hastily retreated across the causeway, destroying it in his wake. Finn is said to have thrown massive rocks after the retreating giant. One of the holes he created filled with water and became known as Lough Neagh and another giant lump missed Benandonner and landed in the Irish sea. It is now known as the Isle of Man.

Why is it so important to raise money for Action Medical Research?

In Northern Ireland we have two fabulous ongoing research projects, both of which have the potential to benefit thousands of people every year.
Professor Stitt, at Queen's University Belfast, is investigating the causes of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) which is a degenerative eye disease that affects 25 million individuals worldwide. It is the leading cause of blindness in adults over 60. It has no cure and current treatments only partially work to prevent disease progression. We hope that the study will lead to the development of new treatments.

Dr McCloskey and Dr Johnston, also based at Queen's University, are researching the role of interstitial cells in urinary incontinence. Perhaps not the most glamorous of projects but no less important as urinary incontinence affects around 12 per cent of adults in the UK, often as the result of other diseases such as diabetes, prostate disease, motor neurone disease, stroke, injury and age-related processes. This research project will study how thecells control the bladder muscle and may provide a basis for the development of drugs to prevent abnormal bladder contractions. These are two of many projects supported by Action Medical Research. See our full list on our research page.