Galway's Deputy Mayor, Councillor Colette Connolly has paid tribute to Mickey Kelly and Mike Lydon, who completed a 1,000km cycle from Spain to the Spanish Arch in aid of the Irish Kidney Association and the National Council for the Blind.

A JOB WEL DONE: Michael Lydon from the Irish Kidney Association and Mickey Kelly from National Council for the Blind Ireland celebrate at the Spanish Arch on Saturday after completing 'Spain to Spanish Arch' a 1000km fundraising cycle in aid of the two organisations. Photo: Declan Monaghan.

A plasterer by trade, Mike Lydon suffered kidney failure in 1990 and was on dialysis from 1993 to 1995. In June 1995, he had a successful kidney transplant. An active member of the Galway Branch of the Irish Kidney Association, he fundraises for the IKA to help other in the same situation that he found himself in 18 years ago.

In 1997 Mike took up cycling to keep fit and took part in the World Transplant Games in 2003 in France. In 2006 he had a fantastic year when he won a silver medal in the European Transplant Games in Hungary.

Mickey Kelley developed eye problems in 1990. A self employed plant fitter, he had to give up that work five years ago due to vision impairment, and then retrained as a telephonist. He now works in Galway city. He is founder member and secretary of the recently formed Visually Impaired Activities Club of Galway.

Having received a lot of help and support from the National Council for the Blind, and the Blazing Saddles when he needed it most, he believes in putting something back in the NCBI, raising much needed funds by being heavily involved with the Blazing Saddles to help others with vision impairment.

Together Mike Lydon and Mickey Kelly cycled on a tandem bike from Hendaye in Northern Spain, to Paris, where they flew to Shannon, and continued to cycle to the Spanish Arch, cycling over 1,000km on their journey, leaving Spain on 5 July and reaching the Spanish Arch on 12 July. Moneys raised will be split equally between the Irish Kidney Association and the National Council for the Blind.

Councillor Colette Connolly welcomed both men back to Galway, and said, "Both of these men have shown nothing but courage and determination, both in dealing their own illnesses, and then being so active in raising awareness and helping others. I would like to congratulate both Mike and Mickey for being perfect examples to the rest of us Galwegians."

Mickey and Mike hope to raise much needed funds for the National Council for the Blind of Ireland and the Irish Kidney Association, to raise awareness amongst the public at large about the quality of life one can have after receiving a transplant and to highlight the importance of carrying a donor card and to make visually impaired people aware of the fact that they can live a full and active life both at work, in sport and recreation with help and support from other people in a similar situation and of course from NCBI.

To donate money to this worthy cause and help achieve the target of €50,000, lodge your donation to the following Ulster Bank Account, at Eyre Square Galway. A/c: Spain to Spanish Arch. Account Number: 10372856, Sort Code 985750.

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