Huge welcome for Cycle Against Suicide in Ballyshannon

More than 150 Cyclists Against Suicide made their way over the Allingham Bridge and watched closely by the eagle eye of Rory Gallagher the people of Ballyshannon and Bundoran turned out in numbers to give them a great Donegal welcome yesterday afternoon.

A student grabs that almost obligatory selfie with Red Rock's Adam Weafer in Ballyshannon. INDD 080518 CAS 4 MVB

In the Sports Hall at Colaiste Colmchille many waited anxiously just to see who would be sleeping in their beds that night.

These were the homestay families who turned up from Ballyshannon, Rossnowlagh, Bundoran, Tullaghan and even Donegal Town to provide very welcome accomodation for the weary cyclists.

After a good night’s rest the cyclists re-assembled at the sports hall on Friday morning where they joined the students delivering that all important message - “It’s perfectly OK to to feel OK all of the time” encouraging them to talk about issues that may be weighing heavily on their minds.

A popular speaker on the morning Adam Weafer, from Red Rock and now Coronation St. told the packed hall that as an actor he had faced countless rejections in his young gareed but he persister.

“Follow your dream,” he said, “I did and this morning I can reveal to you all that I start with Coronation Street next week. I don’t feel great every morning but that’s perfectly OK, indeed I might be a bit worried if I did. Today I feel good and that’s what counts.”

It was a morning full of joy and gratitude - a lot of hugs, kisses and new found friends and a message that will surely stick with those attending on Friday morning - it really is OK not to feel 100% every morning of the week.