Up to 18 Recovery Road Cycling Clubs, which help individuals in their recovery journey from addiction, are set to be established in various locations following €500,000 commitment by a benefactor.
The first Road Recovery Cycle Club has already been very successful in Ballymun, and a second one - in Clondalkin - is being established now. The new club will be in Tus Nua, a community-based addiction support centre in Clondalkin.
The establishment of the Clubs has been supported by Liam Hogan and Tom Barber of the Addiction Recovery Cycling Group, which provides financial support to acquire road racing bikes and advice and training to prepare the members for road cycling. The Addiction Recovery Cycling Group has received a commitment of €500,000 from a benefactor who wishes to remain anonymous to enable the establishment of the Clubs.
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Commenting on the establishment on the second club at Clondalkin, Liam Hogan and Tom Barber have said: “The original idea for using cycling as a help for those recovering from addiction came from Philly MacMahon. We set up this ad hoc Group to make it happen and we are delighted with the progress that has been made from a standing start. Brian Foley has done a tremendous job in building the Ballymun Recovery Road Cycling Club and Jamie Doran will do likewise in Clondalkin."
Each Club has a designated Champion to lead the organisation and oversee its operation. Brian Foley is the Champion at Ballymun Youth Action Project. Jamie Doran is the Champion at Clondalkin Tus Nua.
Jamie Doran of Clondalkin Tus Nua says: “Clondalkin Tus Nua’s initiative is aimed at increasing our service users’ recovery capital. Cycling has so many important elements of recovery. It promotes mental and emotional well-being, along with the benefits of physical activity. The social element, fun and sense of achievement from cycling will improve our group members’ recovery in each of these areas. We’re delighted to be starting this in Clondalkin and look forward to the benefits what will undoubtedly flow from this.”
Meanwhile, Brian Foley of Ballymun Youth Action Project says: “People in recovery are role models that challenge stigma, promote recovery and increase hope and optimism that change is indeed possible in a community that can experience high levels of deprivation and challenges with drug use. The transition from a culture of addiction to a culture of recovery is crucial because it changes not only who people spend their time with but also what they do with their time.
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