Glenties men gearing up for charity drive to Germany for mental health awareness

A group of Glenties men are driving to Germany next month to raise money for an important cause.

The Gear Up For Minds fundraiser is a 3,000km drive from Glenties to the world-famous Nürburgring motorsports complex. The money raised will go towards North West STOP, a suicide prevention organisation operating across Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Roscommon, West Cavan and North Mayo.

The eight men taking on the three-day drive are Declan Boyle, Stephen Molloy, Paul Quinn, Conor Quinn, Liam McGeehan, Connell McDevitt, James McDyre and Ryan Hunter. The group will set off on November 14 in a fleet of three Toyota Avensis cars.

Declan, who organised the challenge, said he wanted to raise awareness for mental health while also remembering his dear friend Kevin Quinn, who passed away in 2021.

“Mental health is a big thing and it’s not really spoken about,” said Declan. “I tried to get [the charity] as close to home as I could.

“On November 14, we’re going from Glenties as far as McCafferty’s bar in Ilford, London. We’re staying there overnight and the next day is a big day. We’re leaving at 4am, heading down to Dover to get the Channel Tunnel across. When we get as far as France, it will take five and a half hours to get to the Nürburgring.”

An avid motorsports enthusiast, Declan chose Nürburgring for the destination as it boasts a 20.832km racetrack. The group will complete a lap of the racetrack before returning on the journey home.

“We’re going to plan to get back to England that night,” said Declan. “On Sunday, we’re leaving at 8am for Liverpool to get the boat and we’ll be back to Ireland at 5:30pm. We’ll be back in Glenties then at around nine or 10pm.”

The fundraiser has received lots of local support in Glenties, with a number of local businesses sponsoring the journey.

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“The community is getting behind us,” said Declan. “Everyone is really looking forward to it. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime journey and it’s for a good cause.”

You can support the fundraiser by donating to the Gear Up For The Mind 3000kms GoFundMe page.

North West STOP provides free counselling services to people of all ages across the north west of Ireland. Visit www.northweststop.ie to find out more.