Operation Rudolph kicks 10-year goal

WALK On, Walk On....

Anfield’s football anthem will bring down the curtain on the country’s best known Christmas charity cycle event.

Operation Rudolph Santa Cycle begins its 10th and final run from the famous Liverpool soccer shrine on December 15.

For model and avid football fan Roberta Rowat and her colleagues the trip to Merseyside also presents the opportunity to meet some of the club’s all-time greats.

The riders will return to the Spire on Dublin’s O’Connell Street on December 16 (9.30am).

They travel more than 50 miles through Naas to Portlaoise; next day it’s Roscrea-Nenagh-Portumna, Co Galway.

After their four days in the saddle, the sponsored cyclists will head off, visiting Loughrea en route, before finally climbing off their bikes in Galway city centre at the end of their journey.

“It only seems like yesterday that I was a lone cyclist travelling from Waterford to Dublin as part of my Gaisce Award,” organiser Ian McKeever recalled yesterday.

“At the time I was working in AA Roadwatch and some of my colleagues, Lorraine Keane and Ian Dempsey particularly, said we’ll get behind your initiative.

“Then more friends and colleagues from the media offered their support.

“It wouldn’t have grown but for Ian Dempsey especially.”

Three charities will benefit from next month’s run, each of 40 riders raising between €1,500 and €2,000.

“This year’s charities were carefully chosen to ensure that we truly are helping those that need it most,” said Ian.

The charities are: the West of Ireland Alzheimer’s Foundation; Laura Lynn Children’s Hospice Foundation and the Cormac Weldon Trust. Dublin cyclist Cormac Weldon requires 24-hour care after crashing and breaking his neck in the open day for amateur riders during the Tour de France.

Contacts: [e-mail] (094-936 4900); [e-mail] (01-821 0283) and [e-mail] (086-8100 560) for Cormac Weldon Trust.