17th Annual Tour de Munster Cycle in Aid of Down Syndrome Ireland

17th Annual Tour de Munster Cycle in aid of Down Syndrome Ireland – Aoibhín Garrihy with her niece Zoe, Sean Kelly, Ann Norton, Mayor of Ennis and Paul Sheridan with Joey O’Gorman pictured at the official launch. Picture: Keith Wiseman

17th Annual Tour de Munster Cycle in Aid of Down Syndrome Ireland

More than 100 amateur cyclists will tour 600km of Munster’s six counties, including Limerick, in the 17th Annual Tour de Munster Cycle in aid of Down Syndrome Ireland this summer.

The annual Tour de Munster event was recently launched at Bunratty Castle by cycling legend Sean Kelly and celebrity guest Aoibhinn Garrihy. The event takes place between August 10 and August 13.

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Fundraising can include personal sponsorship, but also commercial sponsorship whereby a sponsor logo placement will accompany a donation attracted by that participant.

Down Syndrome Ireland is an organisation of people with Down syndrome and their parents and guardians. Their goal is to help people with Down syndrome make their own futures as bright and independent as possible by providing them with education, support and friendship every step of the way.

Their aims include the provision of parental counselling, appropriate educational facilities for children with Down syndrome and a forum where parents and guardians can meet to exchange views and ideas.

It is funded by voluntary contributions and events organised by members. From modest beginnings in 1971, it has now grown to over 3000 member families with 25 branches nationwide.

Last year, the popular charity cycle raised a total of €285,655 for the charity, and since its inception, the cycle has raised more than €2.4m for Down Syndrome Ireland’s many beneficiaries.

Sean Kelly said at the launch: “I am honoured to be associated with the 17th Annual Tour de Munster Cycle and its beneficiaries, the members of the Munster branches of Down Syndrome Ireland and individual beneficiaries.”

Fundraiser Michael O’Gorman said: “Last year was amazing and we couldn’t have expected more from this great fundraising event. We feel honoured to have been selected as it shows Tour de Munster care just as much about the charity as we do.”

He continued: “We have been around for 40 years and even though we have achieved so much in the charity, it’s great to get outside support from others.”

Tour de Munster organiser Paul Sheridan said: “We are very grateful to the many companies who’ve already got behind the Tour with generous donations all of which go to DSI Munster Branches. We are now relying on public support and hope for a repeat of the incredible generosity we saw last year.”

“The DSI slogan is ‘share the journey’ and we hope that our Tour will see a lot of supporters do just that both directly and indirectly. The DSI logo shows “helping hands” and we all have a chance to give a helping hand through the Tour’s fundraising effort. If everyone helps a little then it will help quite a lot” he said.

To visit the official Tour de Munster website click here

To read more charity stories on I Love Limerick click here