Cycling with heart

Cork to Dublin and back again in 5 days, September 2010

At a time when most secondary school students were enjoying the freedom of the summer holidays, 18-year-old Blarney student Alex Rathke spent most of his time on a bicycle, preparing for his Charity Cycle Run in aid of the Irish Heart Foundation from Cork to Dublin and back in the space of five days starting on 8th September, 2010.

The South African-born teenager said: "I am aware that it will not be easy. It’s well over 500 kilometres and to achieve that, I will have to be fit."

The sixth-year student from Hewitt College has taken his training so seriously that even a holiday to Africa for the World Cup did not stop him from training. He said: "I borrowed a bike and got up really early. Luckily, even though it was winter in Africa, the sun was shining for quite a bit of the time, so I managed to get in some good training when it was warm. I also had a few rainy days, so I should be prepared for all eventualities when I ride to Dublin."

He said that the idea came to him shortly before the holidays. "We have a very long break and I did not simply want to sit around and do nothing. I have always been an active athlete and do competitive swimming. But I thought instead of simply getting on my bike and training, I might as well do it for a good cause.

"I have been up to Dublin for several swim meets, but this trip will show me a completely different side of Ireland, one that I have not yet seen. I am really looking forward to cycling on some of the backroads."

Rathke, who is hoping to attract fellow cyclists along the way to join him for parts of the journey, said that he approached the Irish Heart Foundation because he believes that they have an important role to play.  He said: "I had a bit of a scare myself earlier in the year and had to undergo some tests, but was then given the all-clear. That got me thinking and I decided to write to the Irish Heart Foundation. They were very professional and supportive in their response and I am very glad that I approached them."

The youngster, who moved to Ireland with his family in 2003, has brought an 'African flavour' to his fundraising efforts. He said: "During our trip to South Africa I was chatting to some local artists who were carving animal pictures into a fruit from the Makalane palm tree. It is also called false ivory as it is very hard. I told them about my plan and they wanted to get involved, so I bought three hundred key rings with the Irish Heart Foundation logo and the words Irish Heart carved into them. I will give them to the people who sponsor me for the ride. That way, it is not only the Irish Heart Foundation that is benefiting, but also local artists in Africa."

This Wednesday (8.9.10) Alex will start out on his 5-day cycle from Hewitt College and he hopes people will sponsor him or make donations along the way. On the first day he will cycle to Cashel followed by Monasterevin on the second day and then to the National Aquatic Centre in Dublin on day three before turning around to return to Cork, all within five days.

Irish Heart Foundation Munster Fundraising Manager Anne Riordan said: "We always have a good response when we look for people to fundraise, but we seldom have somebody like Alex who would independently organise something on such a scale.  It is something that we would certainly encourage and I can only wish him well on his journey.  I’m also delighted that he’s so generously supporting the Irish Heart Foundation which is the only national charity fighting heart disease and stroke.”