A group of friends are to take on a gruelling 24-hour cycle race in memory of a Galwayman who died in New York last December.

The group of nine will raise funds for the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust by taking on the round-the-clock race around Mondello racetrack in County Kildare on Saturday, June 21.

The charity helps to repatriate the bodies of people who have died abroad back to Ireland.

Among the group is Killimordaly man Justin Whyte, whose brother Aidan, a former Galway hurling underage star, tragically lost his life in an accident in New York just before Christmas.

A popular publican at Gabby O’Hara’s pub in Times Square, he had lived in Manhattan for a number of years.

His brother Justin will be part of a group, comprising an eight-person team and one solo cyclist, taking part in the fundraiser on Saturday week by competing in the Mondello 24 race.

“We’ve chosen to fundraise for Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust, in memory of my brother Aidan.

“This charity aims to alleviate the financial hardship of bereaved families repatriating the bodies of loved ones, who have died abroad in sudden or tragic circumstances, back to Ireland.

“We are trying to raise awareness that the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust have repatriated over 2,000 people from over 86 countries in 10 years,” explained Justin.

The eight-person team, who hope to cover 750km in the 24 hours, is made up of: Justin Whyte (Killimordaly), Andy Conaghy (Dublin/Kilconieron), Maeve Hynes (Loughrea), Keith Curley (Kilconly), Conor Dempsey (Dysart/Maynooth), Ciaran Fox (Dundalk), Daniel Lambe (Dundalk) and Ken Dowdall (Dundalk).

Taking part on a solo hand bike will be Mark Nugent (Maynooth / Dundalk), who is paralysed from the chest down as a result of an accident. He hopes to complete 200km in 24 hours.

Contributions can be made to the fundraiser on idonate.ie. Already this week, the team are close to reaching the initial €7,000 target set. To contribute, go to Idonate.ie/certainlymaybemark.

Pictured: The late Aidan Whyte, in whose memory his brother Justin and others are taking on the 24-hour cycle race at Mondello racetrack on Saturday, June 21, to raise funds for the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust.