Fashion designer to undergo challenging cycle for charity
Sharon is raising funds for the Irish Deaf Society and Talk to Tom suicide prevention charity
By Stuart Tynan
A deaf fashion designer and cyclist will undergo a mammoth cycle across the west of Ireland, including large parts of Mayo, to raise funds for charities close to her heart.
Sharon M. Osborne, from Gorey, Co. Wexford, will be cycling around 1,500km over 12 days this month to raise funds for two charities: Talk to Tom, a suicide prevention charity, and the Irish Deaf Society. She began her journey on Thursday (June 3) and will continue until Monday, June 14.
The route is a coastal trail from Derry to Galway. She will be funding the tour herself and, where possible, trying to find additional sponsorship.
"I’m really excited about my new challenge," said Sharon. "I’m travelling with Dave, my interpreter, who will be helping to support me during my travels.
"I have worked in high street fashion brands and was primarily based in the UK. Like so many others during the pandemic I was furloughed and then made redundant from my pattern cutting job. Uncertain for my future, I turned to my love of cycling for help with my mental well-being as well as inspiration.
"I’ve always loved to cycle since I was a child, probably because I couldn’t sit at home and listen to music or gossip with my friends. I bought my first road bike back in 2014 and learned road cycling techniques.
"I want to highlight the everyday difficulties deaf people face in the hearing world. As you can imagine, I have overcome many challenges in my lifetime, from bullying at school to unprofessional working environments and this has led, on occasion, to suffering from mental health issues. This is why Talk to Tom and the Irish Deaf Society are so important to me, as they have always been there in my hour of need. I want to say a massive thank you by helping raise funds as well as exposure, to showing the support they provide.
"I have a fantastic team supporting me, and my family, especially my brother James and my father, who have always helped and supported me."
Beginning her trip in Derry, Sharon will begin her tour of Co. Mayo on Wednesday, June 7, following her arrival into Ballina via Ballyshannon, Co. Sligo. Following a rest day, she will resume her cycle on Wednesday, June 9, as she will pass through Killala, Ballycastle, Pullathomas, Belmullet and Achill Island.
She will complete Achill Island the next day and proceed to Mulranny, Newport, Westport and Roonagh Pier. She concludes her cycle on June 12, passing through Tully, Clifden, Kilkieran and Galway.
FUTURE
As to what the future holds, Sharon hopes to become a qualified cycling instructor and teach in the UK and Ireland, as well as continue to design outfits with her own brand, Rebel Cycler.
"During lockdown, I have kept myself busy by also creating bespoke activewear designs, specifically for the female figure. As an avid cyclist, I appreciate outfits are not designed with women in mind, the colours and patterns are not very inspirational. My passion is therefore to design outfits for the modern woman, something chic that not only makes you look good but also makes you feel great when cycling. So I have combined both fashion and cycling to create my very own unique brand Rebel Cycler.
"As well as my fashion design work, in July I am training to become a qualified cycling instructor. As my funding is UK based, I have been speaking to several trusts and charities and have found a provider who fits my criteria. Once trained I’ll be able to teach children and adults, both hearing and the deaf, the pure joys of being outdoors on your bike, the health benefits as well as cycle maintenance for those days when things go wrong.
"Cycling has been such a huge part of my life; it has always been there when I’ve struggled with my mental health or found barriers in my way to achieving my dreams. I want to share this with like-minded individuals so they can learn the pleasures of cycling too."
You can donate at https://wildatlanticcycle.ie/ and https://www.instagram.com/deafability/
Sharon's brand, Rebel Cycle, can be viewed at https://www.sharonmosborne.com/rebel