On 25 March, Migraine Ireland held a cycling event in Wicklow to raise funds for the organisation. Frontline Make Change’s social enterprise, Frontline Bikes, supported the event by providing a sponsorship prize. The prize was a Frontline-branded bike worth €900.
The 50–100km cycle route took participants through the countryside of Blessington. It continued into Kildare and included a stop at the Japanese Gardens. The event raised funds to support people living with migraine, a neurological condition.
The annual cycle welcomed both beginners and experienced cyclists. This year, cycling legend Nicolas Roche attended as guest of honour.
Just before the race started, our bike mechanics Ger and Paul assisted Nicolas with an issue with his bike seat. They fixed the problem quickly. As a result, Nicolas was back on his bike and ready to cycle in no time.
The event also provided a strong opportunity to showcase the work of Frontline Bikes. The social enterprise delivers a training and upcycling programme. It provides upskilling and retraining in bike mechanics to people in the community. This includes individuals impacted by substance misuse, long-term unemployment, and custodial sentences.
The training centre in Bluebell receives donations of unused bikes. Without intervention, these bikes might end up in landfill. Instead, the team upcycles them and sells them in the bike shop in Inchicore.
Revenue from the bike shop and social enterprise is reinvested back into the organisation. This reinvestment expands training opportunities. It also helps more people learn a new trade and improve their employment prospects.
Frontline Bikes is located at 147 Emmet Road, Inchicore in Dublin 8.
