A Double Celebration! Down Syndrome (Munster Branches) receive an overwhelming €281,000 As Tour de Munster reaches Over 1 million during the past Twelve Years

03 December 2012

Tour de Munster once again reaches record heights, coming close to a staggering €300,000 in total raised this year. The overwhelming amount was presented by cycling legend Sean Kelly to Clare Leonard, President of Down Syndrome Ireland (DSI) at an event held in the Silver Springs Moran Hotel in Cork on Saturday 1st of December.

The funds was raised by 150 amateur cyclists who undertook a four day 600km cycle around the six counties of Munster during August, and the scores of DSI volunteers,  in the annual Tour de Munster four day charity cycle. Each cyclist covered their own expenses so that every penny raised went directly to the charity.

Tour de Munster organiser Paul Sheridan was delighted with the overall amount raised. Paul says "We set the bar last year, raising just over €300,000 in total which was our best year ever. To come so close to the same about again this year is amazing as we never thought we could pull it off two years in a row! In total we have raised €1,370,000 over the past twelve years and we are very grateful to the many companies and the public who have supported us during that time, especially this year's main sponsor Nightline."  

Clare Leonard, President of DSI said "The Tour de Munster has been an amazing experience for everyone in Down Syndrome Ireland.  We see first-hand that many friendships have been formed between the organisation, the families and the cyclists, that last long after the last person is home from the gruelling four day cycle.  The experience has bonded people together, and on top of the tremendous fundraising work and awareness building, this is the icing on the cake for everyone and what makes the Tour de Munster project so special.  I would like to thank Paul Sheridan and his team, for their tenacity, their compassion and their dedication to this project and to Down Syndrome Ireland.  Our families, our staff, our community will be forever in your debt."

Each branch in Munster will receive an equal share of the money and has sent in a proposal to explain how they would like to spend the money. Areas of expenditure include Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy as well as early intervention services which are vital for the development of children with Down Syndrome. The money will also be spent on sports and leisure activities which are as important to the children, helping them to achieve their goals and be independent.

Special thanks were also given to Media Partners the Irish Examiner, Red FM, Spin South West, Clare FM, Tipp FM and WLR FM. For more information please visit www.tourdemunster.com or www.downsyndrome.ie