A CHARITY CYCLE in memory of broadcaster and children’s author Nick Sheridan is set to begin today, tracing a route from Co Wexford to Scotland that reflects the places most closely associated with his life.

Shore to Shore will start at Curracloe Beach this morning, before participants travel across Ireland and on to Glasgow, finishing at Loch Lomond on Monday.

The cycle is being organised by Sheridan’s family, friends and partner Lewis, with funds going to the Rainbow Unit in Scoil Mhuire in Wexford and the Neurological Unit at the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow. A GoFundMe for the event has already raised more than €34,000.

Speaking ahead of the event, Sheridan’s father, Nick, said the response had been overwhelming.

“We are thrilled with the response that we’ve received, both from the point of view of people participating and people turning up to show support,” he said.

“On the morning, there’ll be a very early swim, a sauna, a cup of tea, and then of course the cycle itself.”

He said the idea for the event came from Sheridan’s brother Brian, inspired by his love of swimming and the outdoors:

“Brian had the idea down in Curracloe. He thought it would be nice to start with a swim there, then cycle across, go up to Belfast, over to Scotland, and finish in Loch Lomond.

“The route has a real significance. It brings us to places that were important in Nicholas’s life, including the BBC offices in Glasgow where he worked.”

Sheridan, who was born in Wexford in 1991, built a career in broadcasting with RTÉ, Virgin Media, STV and BBC Scotland. He also wrote and published a number of children’s books.

He died in March 2024 at the age of 32 after suffering a brain aneurysm.

Shore to Shore Shore to Shore

His father described him as a kind and modest person who brought joy to those around him:

“As a little fella, as a teenager, and as an adult, we got nothing but pleasure and happiness from everything that he was.

“He was a lovely guy to sit and have a pint with. A great listener, very humble, very quiet, and always saw the good in people. He loved helping others, especially students.”

He said the past year had been deeply difficult for the family, but that the cycle offered a way to honour his son’s memory.

“We’ve had a very tough time, and we continue to have a tough time,” he said.

“Your grief doesn’t diminish. Your life might grow around it, but the grief stays the same.”

He added that while the fundraising would support important causes, the primary aim of the event was to keep his son at its centre.

“It’s not really about the financial side, it’s about Nicholas being the kernel and the essence of the whole adventure,” he said.

Family, friends and supporters from Ireland and Scotland, including some travelling from abroad, are expected to gather along the route over the coming days to mark the journey.

The Shore to Shore GoFundMe can be found here.