70 Miles of Support for Build 4 Life

23 April 2008

Fundraising Tandem Cycle from Cork to Build 4 Life Houses in Kerry - Saturday 26th April 2008 Starts: 9.30am at K.L.M. Bar, Cork City

Even before Cork Cystic Fibrosis Week was announced a group of regulars from the K.L.M. Bar on the Lower Glanmire Road decided to fundraise in aid of Build 4 Life.  They wanted to do something positive for Cystic Fibrosis Patients in Cork, by raising vital funds to bring to Cork Ireland's first dedicated CF treatment unit within Cork University Hospital.

With the help of Maura Hanlan and Mary Hackett from the K.L.M. Bar a novel fundraising idea of cycling from the pub to the Build 4 Life Houses in Kerry was thought up.  The Build 4 Life Houses are two houses in the upmarket Clonough development in Castleisland, Co. Kerry, which have just gone on sale and the full proceeds from the sale will go towards raising €1 million to develop a specialised Cystic Fibrosis ward in CUH. This is no leisurely cycle, but will be a gruelling 70 miles, of much sweat and hopefully few tears!  Noel Rae, who with Brendan Sexton are the brave men leading the team of 8 stated "We meant to get in loads of practice, but the most some of us could manage was 6 miles - so Saturday will be a very tough day for most of us!!  We hope people will dig deep to support us as it is definitely not going to be a "cycle in the park" for us and we need all the encouragement we can get. I'm already looking forward to the pint that will be waiting for me when we get to Castleisland, 6 hours later!!"

The team hope to raise between €5,000 and €6,000 on the day and are organising a bucket collection in the city and in Ballincollig on the way.  No-one will miss Brendan and Noel as Brendan will be dressed up as a Clown and Noel, his able assistant will be sporting a bright red dickie bow!!

"Cycling on a Tandem is so much harder than an ordinary bike, especially for the person at the front.  You have to keep balance the whole time by keeping firm pressure on the handle bars, but it will be so worth it, just to see the money that is being collected for such a worthy Cork cause." Noel added.

If you would like to support Noel and the team, they will be leaving the K.L.M. Bar at 9.30am and going through the city and on to Ballincollig, arriving in Castleisland by 3.30pm, the same day hopefully!!  Donations can also be made directly at the K.L.M bar or along the route.

For further information on Cystic Fibrosis and how you could help this worthy cause please call (021) 4273000 (Mon to Fri 9.30am - 5.30pm - Phones kindly manned by Mardyke Entertainment Complex) or after hours call (086) 386 3949. Information and a downloadable information pack can be found on www.build4life.net. Donations can be made directly through any AIB branch or on line banking.  Build4Life Bank Account Allied Irish Bank.  A/C No: 42797173: Sort Code 93-41-43.