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Cyclists saddle up for guide dogs
16.05.12
A NUMBER of visually
impaired cyclists are to pedal a whopping 625km to
Malin Head next week to raise some €50,000 for the
Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind.
The four cyclists, each on a tandem bike assisted by
a sighted participant, will be among a group of 35
who will leave Mizen Head in Co Cork this Saturday
for a week-long cycle to Malin Head, Co Donegal. |
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Pictured at the launch of the Mizen
to Malin cycle are from left; Jim McCormack,
participant, David Kennelly, Irish Guide Dogs
trainer, Maeve McClusky of Irish Guide Dogs with
Orry and Catherine Gallagher, also of the charity,
with Laika. |
Now in its 12th year, the event was set up by
Dublin-based Eamonn Linnane in memory of his father,
Paddy Linnane, a guide dog owner.
"My father and I cycled on a tandem and travelled
all over the world together including South Africa
and Australia," said Eamonn.
Some €500,000 has been raised from the annual event
to date with the money going towards building a
puppy block, investing in a male breeding dog and
other vital services. |
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Eamonn Linnane rides a tandem with
his visually impaired father Paddy, now deceased. |
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The cyclists will
travel up the west coast including Bantry, Tralee,
Kilkee, Galway, Sligo and Letterkenny, on their way
to Ireland's most northerly point. They hope to
arrive at their destination on Friday, May 25. They
will enjoy dinner and a reception that evening at
the Inishowen Gateway Hotel. Irish Guide Dogs for
the Blind supports 300 working guide and assistance
dog partnerships across Ireland including Donegal.
It cost just over €4 million to run the organisation
last year while 80 per cent of its annual income
comes from fundraising and donations. For more
information and donations, visit
www.guidedogs.ie
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