Spin for Tiarnán charity cycle this weekend
Spin for Tiarnán, a fundraiser in memory of baby Tiarnán McDermott who was stillborn in 2018, takes place tomorrow (Saturday).
Tiarnán's parents, Cathy and Garry McDermott, wanted to do something in memory of their son while also raising money for the Feilecain charity that gave them so much support following the devastating loss of their baby, and also to raise funds for the local Nobber Cancer Support Group. They are also remembering their nephew Jack, who was stillborn less than a week earlier.
The Spin for Tiarnán Cycle begins at Mullingar Regional Hospital where Tiarnán was born and continues to Cathy's home village of Nobber, via Lobinstown where Tiarnán is buried.
Cathy bravely told the story of the heartbreaking loss of their baby son, less than a week after her brother and his wife also lost their baby boy in the late stages of pregnancy, in the hope that it will help other people who have gone through a similar loss.
Cathy said that since sharing her story, she has got so many messages of support and feels that speaking about their experience had helped normalise conversations around stillbirth and raised awareness of Feilecain, which is the Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Association of Ireland. She also said that people have started to open up to talk to her about Tiarnán, and that it is lovely to talk to people about him.
By telling her story, Cathy also said it made people more aware of what happens after a baby dies and that a lot of people didn't understand that you still go through the birthing process. "It was an eye opener for a lot of people," she said.
"I got a lot of messages from people I was acquainted with who I may not have spoken to in years who said I'm so sorry you had to go through that. It was amazing to think people had taken time out of their day to send me a message and it meant a lot."
Cathy and the group of around 40 cyclists undertaking the 84km route have been busy clocking up the kilometres in preparation for Saturday's cycle.
"There has been brilliant interest. We have over 40 cyclists registered. We have been meeting every Sunday morning and Thursday evening and there has been great support. We have been busy clocking up the kilometers. We are up to 65km now on a Sunday morning."
The cycle departs Mullingar around 8.15am and passes through Delvin, on to Park Ri, Kells, for a lunch stop at 11am, continuing to Wilkinstown, Lobinstown, Woodtown and to Drumcondrath before returning to Nobber at around 2pm.
"We would also welcome any support along the route to cheer us on and keep us going. We will be going from Kells to Lobinstown and on to Nobber and to get some encouragement along the way would be absolutely brilliant to get us over those last kilometres," said Cathy.
Anyone who can't do the cycle but wants to show their support can come along to Keogan's Lounge, Nobber, for a social night to celebrate the group's achievement with music and a raffle with great prizes on Saturday night.
A go fund me page was set up in conjunction with fundraiser which has so far raised over €3,900 and donations can still be made by clicking here
"A lot of people have also said how proud they are of me. I think we tend to sell ourselves short generally and find it hard to say we are proud of ourselves but this time I will say I am very proud of myself. I know when I wheel into Nobber at the end of the cycle it will be hugely emotional, and that I will be very proud of what I have accomplished. To do the cycle for Tiarnán but also what it is doing for so many families by opening up conversations around stillbirth is massive."