Cycling legend Sean Kelly today launches Tour de Munster 2007

18 June 2007

Cycling legend Seán Kelly today launched the 7th edition of the Tour de Munster Charity Cycle which kicks off on Thursday August 16th when a team of 'leisure' cyclists will commence a demanding and challenging four-day 600km charity cycle which will take them through all the counties of Munster with all funds raised going directly to the Cystic Fibrosis Association of Ireland (CFAI) which will benefit specific Cystic Fibrosis projects throughout Munster including "Build4Life", a major fundraising drive to build a new dedicated CF unit at Cork University Hospital.

The aim of the 2007 Tour de Munster is to raise €80,000 towards this worthy cause.   The Association is a voluntary, non-profitable, charitable organisation, set up to increase knowledge and awareness of Cystic Fibrosis (CF) and to give advice and support to people with CF and their families.  Martin Cahill of CFA Ireland stated "At present there are over 1,100 CF sufferers in Ireland and while there has been a welcome increase in life expectancy of people with CF over the years, the demand for the services of our Association has also increased dramatically during this time. As we are totally dependent on voluntary donations and fundraising to provide services, we were delighted to be asked by Tour de Munster to be the beneficiary of this year's fund-raising Cycle.  It not only will raise vital funds for us, but will also be a wonderful vehicle for us to bring even greater awareness of Cystic Fibrosis to the many villages, towns and cities we will be visiting during the four days of this great project."

The first stage of the Tour will take the cyclists from Cork into Co. Waterford for a big climb at the Vee and through Tipperary and Limerick to Killaloe, Co. Clare. Seán Kelly will join the cycle on the second stage which will go through Clare, Limerick and North Kerry to Castlegregory. Day three will see them face more big climbs over the Conor Pass and Molls Gap as they make their way via Dingle, Killarney and Kenmare to Lauragh on the Beara Peninsula.  Day four will start with a tough climb over the Healy Pass and finish in Cork City.

Participants in the 2007 Tour de Munster will collect individual sponsorship and the tour will be accompanied by volunteers who hope to leverage the event with collections in the cities, towns and villages along the route.  Freescale Semiconductor is providing title sponsorship and engineers from the multi-national's Cork Design Centre will be amongst those participating in the Cycle. Centre Manager, Dave Redmond is a very keen cyclist and will be among those honoured to cycle with Seán Kelly.

At the launch Dave Redmond said "Freescale is delighted to be working with the Cystic Fibrosis Association of Ireland in the hope that many CF sufferers and their families will benefit from the funds raised through the Tour de Munster. The inaugural event took place in 2001 and since then has raised over €240,000 for various charities.   Our target this year is to raise €80,000 for the CFAI."

Further information on the 2007 Tour de Munster can be found on www.tourdemunster.com.