Personalities saddle up for Santa cycle

MORE than 40 of the country’s top hacks have swapped their pens for bikes for the rest of this week in a pre-Christmas rally to raise funds for needy appeals.

The nation's reporters saddled up yesterday with a number of politicians and other personalities, ready to go again this morning as the second day of the annual Media Operation Rudolph Santa Cycle gets underway.

The gruelling 245 mile trek brings the group from Wexford, through Clonmel, Limerick and onto Portlaoise and back, finally, to Dublin, in aid of Operation Rudolph's beneficiaries for 2002.

All cyclists are dressed in full Santa Claus costume and among the charities who will benefit from their pedal power are the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games; the Chernobyl Children's Project and the Alzheimer Society of Ireland.

Those participating this year include Philip Cawley of Today FM, along with Breffni Clack also of Today FM and Wes D'Arcy of 2FM. Jenny Greene (FM104), Simon Coveney (TD, Fine Gael) and his brother Andrew Coveney are also taking part.

Various other well known faces, from local politicians to sporting personalities, will be getting on their bikes as they enter each town. In Clonmel, Adi Roche and Noel Davern (TD) join the cycle while in Limerick, Fiona O'Malley (TD, Progressive Democrats) and Munster rugby star, Peter Clohessy, will join in the fun.

"We are delighted to be able to assist so many worthy causes, particularly the work of the Alzheimer Society of Ireland. Christmas can be a very lonely period for those whose lives have been devastated through dementia, both carers and advocates alike," said Eithne Boyan, managing director of Lundbeck (Ireland) Ltd, which is sponsoring this years' cycle the eighth such cycle to have taken place to date for Operation Rudolph.