Arklow's community spirit on show at East Coast Roosters Motorcycle Club run
Soaked to the bone, the riders dried off their clothes as much as possible, then hit the road bound for Killarney, where they spent the night, before embarking on the home leg to Arklow.
Welcomed home to the Arklow Bay Hotel by crowds of family members, friends, supporters and representatives from Arklow Cancer Support, riders were beaming with pride at having completed one of the most challenging charity runs in the history of the almost two-decade-old fundraiser.
Praising his fellow East Coast Roosters Motorcycle Club for their endurance and unwavering support for the run that has seen over hundreds of thousands raised for local charities, club founder Mark Whelan said there were a few sore bodies after the ride.
'We've never witnessed weather like it before, and it couldn't have rained any harder when we were leaving,' Mark said.
'It kept going for the whole day, and while we stopped for fuel, we were so wet that we couldn't take the wet gear off to stop for food, so we didn't have anything to eat until we got to Donegal.
'We got up in the morning and, lo and behold, it was but bucketing down and the clothes were still damp from the previous day, despite the lads trying to dry them on radiators overnight.
'But the spirits remained high, and those lads have big hearts. They just keep going and don't complain.
'On Sunday, we still got a couple of heavy showers, and we made it back to the Arklow Bay at 4.30 pm, where the families and Arklow Cancer Support volunteers clapped us.
'The lads were so tired, as it was a real test of mental endurance, having to concentrate 100pc of the time because of the weather.
'But we made it home safe and sound, which is always the main thing, so it was another successful run for the books!'
Reflecting on the run, long-term East Coast Roosters David Guilfoyle said that, while it was one of the more challenging ones they have taken on, everyone pushed through to complete it, as they always do.
'I'd say the divers in the North Sea wouldn't have got as wet as we did,' David joked.
'The rain was relentless, the whole way up and leaving Donegal on the second day – it just didn't let up.
'However, it was still a really good run. We all made it back. There were no accidents, and we raised a few quid. And it was actually one of the better organised runs, in terms of managing the group.
'After all that weather, I think the lads were delighted to make it back to Arklow and see their families.
'When you're coming into the bay and you see the volunteers from Arklow Cancer Support and all the families, it makes it all worth it.'
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