Bald Eagles Ready to Drive for the
Samaritans
Saturday is the departure date for the
Ennis-based crew of four Bald Eagles attempting to drive a Morris
Minor the full length of Ireland and Britain. The tough 1200 mile
journey is designed to raise funds for and highlight awareness of
the services provided by the Samaritans.
A local spokesperson said “The Samaritans of
Ennis and Clare are delighted to be associated with the Bald Eagle
Tour 2008. We greatly appreciate the tremendous efforts of Peadar
White and Ger Sweeney who have organised this event and very kindly
invited two Samaritan volunteers to participate in the trip
alongside them. We would also like to thank the many people of
Ennis and Clare who have so generously provided sponsorship. This
marathon classic car run will help to highlight Samaritans National
Fundraising and Awareness Day which takes place on July 24th
(24:7)”
The Morris Minor has been undergoing some
surgery in recent weeks with oil changes, brakes, clutch fitting
and some seat re-positioning being undertaken. The chief pilot of
the car is Ennis man Peadar White, who accepted a challenge 3 years
ago to drive his Morris Minor from Mizen Head to Malin Head. It was
a joke at the start, and so he invited those who challenged him to
put their money where their mouth is and if he completed the
journey he would give the money to the Samaritans.
The final inspection on
Friday 18 July
The co-pilot is Ger Sweeney who accompanied
Peadar on the first leg of last year’s Mizen to Malin drive but
because of prior commitments was unable to do both days. His
commitment to Peadar and the cause to complete the journey this
year is being honoured. The Clare FM presenter is going to do some
work en-route as he’ll keep the people of County Clare updated on
the journey as the Morris Minor putt-putts its way along the
highways and byways of Ireland and Britain.
Although confidence is high that the car
will complete the journey with ease, there is a back up crew of two
tailing the Morris Minor. Samaritans PRO Gerry Dobbins will be
accompanied by Fr. Cathal Duddy from the Ennis Friary as back-up in
the crew van. This vehicle will contain a few spare parts…just in
case.
The route of the drive goes anti clockwise
through Ireland and Britain, visiting four countries in four days:
Ireland, Wales, England and Scotland. The drive has been christened
the Bald Eagle run because last year, when Peadar landed at Malin
Head he announced on Clare FM that the Eagle had landed to which
the reply was “surely you mean the Bald Eagle has Landed”...so this
year’s drive has adopted that title.
James, Michael, Ger
Sweeney and Kevin, Landsend, 20th June
The Bald Eagles will leave the Clare Road
on Saturday morning at 9am and head for Mizen Head. As soon as the
team land there and have the photographs (for evidence) taken,
they’ll be off to Rosslare to catch the ferry to Fishgard.
Upon arrival in the South Wales port the
crew will continue towards Cardiff and spend the night just north
of the Welsh capital. On Sunday morning they turn right outside
Cardiff and head for Lands End and again after photographs there
they will point the car northwards.
After that the team will stop and go as is
convenient, but hope to have completed their drive through the
heart of England and Scotland and arrive at John O’Groats by
Wednesday evening at the latest. After the mandatory photographs
there they will head back toward Stranrare where they will board
the ferry for Belfast.
Malin Head is the next point to aim for and
after the photographs they will head South towards Ennis returning
on Friday evening. That’s the plan at least, but as Peadar White
says, “the four of us will just take every mile as it comes and
we’ll keep driving every day as long as we feel up to it…..there
will be no worries about the car. She’ll do her job without any
problem. We could complete this a day or so earlier and we could
take a day or so longer. We’ll take it as it comes with nobody
under pressure”.
While the four participants on the drive will
be working hard it is fair to say that a good time will be had by
all. However, the message of the Samaritans will be very much to
the fore for them.
It is the aim of Samaritans to make emotional
health a mainstream issue. Samaritans' vision is for a society
where fewer people die by suicide because people are able to share
feelings of emotional distress openly without fear of being judged.
Samaritans believes that offering people the opportunity to be
listened to in confidence, and accepted without prejudice, can
alleviate despair and suicidal feelings.
Samaritans is a registered charity, founded in
1953, which offers 24-hour confidential emotional support to anyone
in emotional distress. The service is offered by 2,000 trained
volunteers and is entirely dependent on voluntary support. Across
the Republic of Ireland, you can call Samaritans on 1850 60 90 90
for the price of a local call. You can also write to Samaritans at:
Chris, 112 Marlbourough Street Dublin 1 or send an email to
jo@samaritans.org or if
you are deaf or hard of hearing use the single national minicom
number 1850 60 90 91 in the Republic of Ireland