Cyclists raise more than £39,000 during epic journey from Ireland to Northampton for The McCarthy-Dixon Foundation
A team of 13 cyclists are set to receive a warm welcome in Northampton on Friday after completing a gruelling five-day, nearly 700km charity ride from Ireland.
The challenge, organised by Northamptonshire charity The McCarthy-Dixon Foundation, began in Belmullet, Co. Mayo, started on Monday and is due to finish at The Swan & Helmet in Grove Road, Northampton, at around 5pm on Friday, August 14.
Supporters, family, friends and members of the public are being encouraged to gather at the pub to welcome the cyclists home after their mammoth journey.
The team has already covered more than 300km across Ireland, passing through Roscommon before taking a ferry from Dublin to Wales and continuing through Wales and England towards Northampton.
The five-day route covers almost 700km of roads, cycle paths and tracks and involves more than 11,644ft of elevation gain.
Among the cyclists taking part is the Mayor of Northampton, Councillor Mike Hallam, who has chosen The McCarthy-Dixon Foundation as his mayor’s charity.
During the Irish leg of the challenge, Councillor Hallam visited Castlecoote, Co. Roscommon, where his family has connections.
He said: “My grandmother emigrated from Ireland to Northampton in the 1940s to work at St Crispin’s Hospital, so it was fantastic to cycle into our village of Castlecoote, Co. Roscommon, to meet with the chairman of Roscommon County Council, Councillor Dominic Connolly, along with family and friends, and bring my own family’s story of emigration to Northampton full circle.”
This year's challenge is raising money for The McCarthy-Dixon Foundation and Northgate Academy, a specialist school supporting children and young people with additional needs.
More than £39,000 has already been raised through fundraising, donations and sponsorship.
The McCarthy-Dixon Foundation provides services for vulnerable people and families across Northamptonshire, including emergency food parcels and household essentials as well as community and wellbeing support.
The challenge follows a similar event in 2025, when cyclists travelled in the opposite direction from Northampton to Belmullet over six days, raising more than £75,000 for charities in Northamptonshire and Co. Mayo.
Teresa McCarthy-Dixon MBE, founder of The McCarthy-Dixon Foundation, said the cyclists faced a tough second half of their journey as they continued through the heatwave in England.
She said: “We’re so proud of the whole team for their amazing dedication and efforts throughout this event so far.
“As we progress onto the second half of the route and power through the heatwave going on in England at the moment, it’s going to be a tough journey for the team, but with regular water breaks and early enough starts, they’re still absolutely smashing it so far.”
The cyclists are expected to arrive at The Swan & Helmet, in Grove Road, at around 5pm on Friday.
Teresa added: “We would absolutely love to see as many people as possible joining us at The Swan & Helmet on Friday afternoon to give the cyclists the welcome home they deserve and help us celebrate the end of what’s been an incredible journey.”