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Looking forward to the Tour de Munster charity cycle were Nichola Power and her daughters Caoimhe (right), Cliona (left) and Cara along with Paul Sheridan, founder and tour organiser. Photo: Brian Lougheed
THIS August, the Tour de Munster charity cycle is celebrating the 20th running of the event and will set out on its most important tour yet in order to raise vital funds for the Munster branches of Down Syndrome Ireland and individual beneficiaries.
The cyclists will pay their annual visit to Tralee on Friday, August 7. Founder of the tour, Paul Sheridan said; “I started Tour de Munster back in 2001 as I wanted to do something to support children’s charities while doing something that I love – cycling. It’s an important milestone this year and given the times we are living in – fundraising for children in need is more important than it has been since the first charity cycle back in 2001.”
Taking place from the 6th to 10th of August, the tour will see participants travel 600km through the towns and villages of Munster as they support Down Syndrome Ireland’s Munster branches and individual beneficiaries who urgently require funds.
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As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Munster branches of Down Syndrome Ireland (DSI) have seen the majority of their vital funding events cancelled over the past number of months.
On top of this, branches are now facing significantly increased costs as they prepare to reopen their centres to enable regular one to one services such as Occupational and Speech and Language Therapies to take place.
Since 2001, the Tour de Munster charity cycle has raised over €3.1 million for a wide range of children’s charities including €2.6 million for the Munster branches of Down Syndrome Ireland since they became the main beneficiary of the tour in 2010.
Funds raised from the tour contribute hugely to the Munster branches of Down Syndrome Ireland each year by providing vital services for their members.
Paul Sheridan said, “Like many things, it was unsure if the Tour de Munster could take place in a physical format this year but no matter what, we were still going to do our very best to raise as much funds as possible for these amazing young children and adults with Down syndrome. With restrictions lifted, we are delighted to be taking to the road this August with increased safety measures. It’s evident how extremely difficult COVID-19 has been for those with Down syndrome and the six branches of DSI across Munster and we want to do as much as possible to raise funds and awareness.”
This year’s tour will start in Cork City and once again showing his support will be cycling legend Seán Kelly, participating in the tour for the 14th time.
Commenting, Seán said; “For the past thirteen years, I have had the honour of meeting so many wonderful individuals with Down syndrome. No matter what challenges face them, their strength and positivity is remarkable. Having been involved in the tour and meeting so many families throughout the years, it really opened my eyes to the support that is crucially needed for those with Down syndrome.”
The goal of DSI is to enable children born with Down Syndrome to be as independent as possible, and through the great work of the Tour de Munster cyclists and supporters, DSI can access the funding needed to help more young people with Down syndrome develop and flourish in practical ways.
For further information and to donate visit www.tourdemunster.com and find it on Facebook. For further information on Down Syndrome Ireland see www.downsyndrome.ie.
