1st Annual Purple Rose Bike Run in aid of Cystic Fibrosis

06 April 2010

The 1st Annual Purple Rose Bike Run in aid of Cystic Fibrosis will take place on Saturday 24th April. Over 100 motorcyclists are expected to travel over 350km in convoy from Tipperary Town to Killybegs in Co. Donegal.

Registration for the "run" begins at 9am at Market Yard, Tipperary Town.  All registered motorcyclists will depart Tipperary Town at 10.30am sharp; then it's on to Thurles, followed by Templemore and Roscrea.  Next port of call is Birr, followed by Cloghan, Ferbane, and Athlone.  Riders will travel on through Ballymahon, Edgeworthstown, Granard, Ballinagh, and Cavan Town.  The last leg of the journey will take them through Belturbet, Enniskillen, Ballyshannon, Ballintra, Donegal Town and finally on to Killybegs.

The Purple Rose Bike Run coincides with the start of the Cystic Fibrosis Association of Ireland's (CFAI) National Awareness Week, this year entitled "65 Roses/ CF Week", which runs from April 23rd - 30th.   Cystic Fibrosis - or CF is Ireland's most common life threatening inherited disease.  Ireland has the highest prevalence of CF in the world, with 1 in 19 carrying the CF gene.  Ireland also has the most severe strain of the CF gene in the developed world.  Despite this, facilities for CF patients in our hospitals are below European standards. 

Today, people with CF can expect to live a near normal, full and productive life, provided that the correct facilities are in place, particularly isolation facilities in hospitals; and funds raised through the Purple Roses Bike Run will go towards improving facilities in Cork University Hospital (CUH) for people living with CF.

Billy Bresnan, Chairman of Purple Rose Bike Run committee said "CFAI is a cause close to my own heart having lost two children to CF, and having another who is living with it now.  Ireland has the highest incidence of CF per capita in the world, and many of the issues relating to the illness can be alleviated by proper resources around the country.  We wanted to organise an event that would be enjoyable for participants, while at the same time highlighting the need for better CF facilities, and raising funds for these." 

Martin Cahill, Fundraising Manager, CFAI said: "As the national organisation responsible for providing services to the CF community in Ireland, and being totally dependent on voluntary donations and fundraising to do so, we are delighted to be chosen as the beneficiary of this excellent fundraising initiative.  Proceeds of this event will be used to financially support the provision of improved CF facilities in CUH."

Sponsorship cards and further information on getting involved are available from Mary Behan, Purple Rose Bike Run PRO by phoning 087 3226896. Further information on Cystic Fibrosis is available from www.cfireland.ie.