A Craigavon charity, Just A Chat, set up to raise awareness and combat the stigma of mental health for youths, has cycled 282 miles to raise vital funds at a special event in Portadown’s Asda.A Craigavon charity, Just A Chat, set up to raise awareness and combat the stigma of mental health for youths, has cycled 282 miles to raise vital funds at a special event in Portadown’s Asda.
A Craigavon charity, Just A Chat, set up to raise awareness and combat the stigma of mental health for youths, has cycled 282 miles to raise vital funds at a special event in Portadown’s Asda.

Craigavon based group cycles 282 miles at Asda in Portadown to raise vital funds for mental health charity Just A Chat

By Carmel Robinson
Published 11th May 2023, 17:22 BST
Updated 11th May 2023, 17:37 BST
A local charity, set up to raise awareness and combat the stigma of mental health for youths, has cycled 282 miles to raise vital funds at a special event in Portadown’s Asda.

Organised by the charity Just A Chat, the team aimed to cycle 237 mile (1 mile for every suicide recorded in NI in 2021) and they managed to cycle 282 mile with one hour to spare.

Conor Hegarty from Just A Chat and who organised the event said: “We had great support on the day from local kids, football clubs, charities, youth groups and much more. One of our fundraisers, Paul Beattie, cycled an incredible 80 miles on the day for us.

"Also we had a competition open to all local clubs and groups – A team of two cycled for 15 minutes and whatever team cycled the most miles won a £300 sponsorship package for new equipment. This was won by local Charity The Fitzone Foundation based in Legahory, Craigavon.

"The main part of our awareness campaign was to distribute leaflets which had information on local Mental Health Services that could help anyone in an emergency either with Mental Health Issues or Suicidal Thoughts.”

At the Cycle for Charity event in Portadown's Asda, the Just A Chat charity team had a competition open to all local clubs and groups – a team of 2 cycled for 15 minutes and whatever team cycled the most miles won a £300 sponsorship package for new equipment. This was won by local charity The Fitzone Foundation based in Legahory, Craigavon.

1. Thumbs up for the Fitzone lads

At the Cycle for Charity event in Portadown's Asda, the Just A Chat charity team had a competition open to all local clubs and groups – a team of 2 cycled for 15 minutes and whatever team cycled the most miles won a £300 sponsorship package for new equipment. This was won by local charity The Fitzone Foundation based in Legahory, Craigavon. Photo: Contributed

Young cyclist is helping out a local charity, Just A Chat which was set up to raise awareness and combat the stigma of mental health for youths. The participants have cycled 282 miles to raise vital funds at a special event in Portadown’s Asda.

2. Never too young to cycle for charity

Young cyclist is helping out a local charity, Just A Chat which was set up to raise awareness and combat the stigma of mental health for youths. The participants have cycled 282 miles to raise vital funds at a special event in Portadown’s Asda. Photo: Contributed

All age groups participated in the charity cycle at Asda in Portadown in aid of a local charity, Just Chat set up to raise awareness and combat the stigma of mental health for youths.

3. Men and boy putting in the energy at the cycling event

All age groups participated in the charity cycle at Asda in Portadown in aid of a local charity, Just Chat set up to raise awareness and combat the stigma of mental health for youths. Photo: Contributed

Young boys also took up the Charity Cycle Challenge at Asda in Portadown in aid of local charity Just A Chat which was set up to raise awareness and combat the stigma of mental health for youths. They helped reach a whopping 282 miles cycled.

4. Boys take on the charity cycle with gusto

Young boys also took up the Charity Cycle Challenge at Asda in Portadown in aid of local charity Just A Chat which was set up to raise awareness and combat the stigma of mental health for youths. They helped reach a whopping 282 miles cycled. Photo: Contributed

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