Noble gesture to cycle for charity

LEGENDARY charity worker Christina Noble believes action speaks louder than words.

That’s why she intends to saddle up for tomorrow’s 125-mile Dublin to Sligo fundraising cycle, despite the fact she’s not feeling in the best of health.

More than 200 riders are taking part in the charity run, sponsored by O’Brien’s Irish Sandwich Bars, to raise money for the Christina Noble Children’s Foundation.

“If all these people are going to come out and cycle on the day, I have to go, too,” said Christina.

Momma Christina - as she is known to millions through her work in helping the world’s poor children - will join the other cyclists at Longford.

In a special message yesterday she said: “It is only through individual donations and corporate sponsorship we can continue to make a difference to hundreds of thousands of children in Vietnam and Mongolia every year.

“I would like to thank the people of Ireland for their unfailing support, she added.” Inspired to help others by her own suffering in a dysfunctional family, Dublin-born Christina first went to Vietnam in 1989 to help poor children.

Her foundation has helped to give 80,000 children a chance in life. It assists them in starting businesses and also finds them more suitable housing and healthcare. All the children are given the opportunity to go to school - and most do. O’Brien’s Sandwich Bars chief executive Brody Sweeney, who intends to lead the 200 O’Brien’s staff, families and friends on the ride, urged people along the route to come out and give their support.

The majority of the cyclists will begin the marathon ride in Dublin, with less experienced riders joining the event in Longford town and completing the second leg of the cycle on to Sligo Cathedral.