Tour de Munster 2009 Announce Partnership with Chernobyl Children's Project International for this year's 600 km Munster Charity Cycle

02 April 2009

Details of the 9th Year of the Tour De Munster Charity Cycle, a challenging four-day 600km cycle around Munster were announced this morning 2nd April. This year's chosen beneficiary is the Chernobyl Children's Project International for their special "Chernobyl Heart" Appeal.

Adi Roche, CEO, Chernobyl Children's Project International and well known author Cathy Kelly who has just returned from her Australian Book Tour, announced the partnership this morning.

Tour de Munster Organiser Paul Sheridan says;

"The success of the Tour de Munster is growing each year and over the past eight years we have raised nearly 500,000 for various charities. This year we decided to choose the Chernobyl Children's Project International as our beneficiary.  I myself was quite moved when I watched a documentary about the actual aftermath of the Chernobyl Disaster when hundreds of people lost their lives trying to control the explosion. The repercussions of the disaster are more than evident today and can be seen in the growing number of children born with heart defects. A simple operation costing 1,000 can save these children's lives and we hope to save as many children as we can"

Adi Roche says;"We are delighted to have been chosen as the beneficiary of the 2009 Tour de Munster. As Paul mentioned we hope to use these funds to continue our cardiac missions in major cities in Belarus and the Ukraine. We will also be using the funds to train and up skill local surgeons so that they may continue to save the lives of these children in the future"

This year's Tour de Munster begins on August 13th. For up to date information and developments on the tour please log onto www.tourdemunster.ie. For further information on the Chernobyl Children's Project International please see www.chernobyl-international.com