Easy rider Frankie ready to get on his bike for charity

FOR MONTHS now, big-hearted biker, Frankie McEvoy, has been planning his solo tour around the country to raise funds for a worthy appeal.

At noon today, the Waterford city man’s dream comes true as he swaps his taxi cab and the crowded streets for a 1,000km trek to raise funds for Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin, Dublin.

After the week-long trek, he takes part in another country-wide run before making a similar fundraising tour in the US. Frankie did the same round the country run for pleasure in the 1970s and says he’s looking forward to escaping for a week on his pride and joy, a silver, Honda 650 Deauville.

“I’ve raised €10,500 already and will be collecting also en route. My first stop is Cork and I then go on to Killarney, Galway, Sligo, Donegal, Dundalk and Wicklow. It will take exactly one week.

“A solo run like this has never been done before and I’m really looking forward to the run. I’ve been into bikes for the past 30 years on and off and got back into it seriously again in the past year,” he said.

As well as the US fundraiser, Frankie is also involved in another Irish run in July, which involves more than 100 fellow biking enthusiasts, and a night to remember in Waterford.

“We will converge on Waterford on July 16. They will be escorted into the city and out to the race track where a night at the dogs will be held as a fund-raiser for the appeal. It’s been dubbed the ‘Children for Children’ night and we’ll have face painting, fundraising and loads of fun,” he said.

Frankie plans to leave Waterford from his local pub, The Cleaboy, at noon today. His sponsorship cards are there and much of his fundraising was run there. www.frankie.pro.ie