Fundraising motorbike ride reaches London!

After nearly two action-packed weeks on the road our energetic Leap of Faith motorbikers reached London on June 22 after a journey of 1500 miles around Ireland and the UK, raising funds and awareness along the way.   Their last stop was at Depaul UK's first ever project in Willesden which provides 23 young people with a home and has been running for over 20 years. 

During the second week they also visited Depaul UK's Geared4Life project in Newcastle, a social enterprise and apprenticeship scheme for disadvantaged young people in the North East of England, which trains them as qualified bicycle mechanics and provides a cycle repair and maintenance service.  Being in the North East also enabled them to meet the manager of Depaul's Simonside House accommodation project Ted Haughey who is very proud to have been chosen as an Olympic torch bearer through his efforts on behalf of Depaul and other charities in the past, running in several marathon races and raising significant sponsorship donations.

On to Manchester where they visited the 12-bed Safestop supported housing project, and residents happily borrowed helmets and motorbike gear, and sat on the back of the bikes!  

With all the fun along the way, it had its serious side.  Mark McGreevy, Depaul International's CEO who accompanied the group, has been pleased with the opportunities to meet clients in Depaul projects visited in Ireland and the UK, and to hear their often heartbreaking stories first hand.  The Leap of Faith team set themselves a formidable fundraising target in support of Depaul's work with vulnerable people. They've already reached nearly $100,000 which is amazing! - but they want to double that!  Please make a donation, however large or small, and to get a flavour of why it's so important do read the latest blog on Loralee West's Leap of Faith website where she sums up the essence of Depaul's work with the homeless and disadvantaged and why she has been inspired to get involved.  http://www.loraleeleapoffaith2.com/journal/note-loralee