60s Carmen Player faces new challenge

A member of the Carrickmore Senior Championship winning sides of 1961 and 1966 Larry is well used to physical challenging playing in an era when no quarter was asked nor given. He has remained involved in the club all of his life and recently spearheaded the Nally Heritage Centre project which concluded in 2007 with the opening of a state of the art heritage centre in the Nally Stand at Pairc Colmcille, Carrickmore. Larry completed a similar cycle in 2006 which ended up making over £70,000 for the same charity. However at 69 he admits that this latest challenge will push him to the limit.

He will be cycling across the Pyrenees from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic from 18th to 25th September. This is as part of an 18 person group, including Staff from the Cancer Centre, which is raising money for the local charity Friends of the Cancer Centre.

He is doing 7 consecutive days covering approximately 440 miles and will be climbing roughly 41,000 feet in total. The route will include a number of the famous HC climbs regularly included on the Tour de France route including Col de Peyresourde, Col d’Aspin, Col du Tourmalet and Col D’Aubisque. There is a real mix of cycling experience in the group from those who are club members and regular cyclists through to those who have only got a bike within the last year.

All the cyclists are paying their own expenses for the trip so all money raised will go to the 'Friends' charity. 'Friends' do fantastic work in providing support to cancer patients and their families, as well as funding equipment and supporting research at the Cancer Centre.

All donations will be gratefully accepted. Anyone who might wish to donate can do so by logging on to http://www.justgiving.com/Larry-Sheeran