Cyclists urged to saddle up for charity bike ride

Cyclists are saddling up for a fundraising tour through one of the most scenic regions of Cork to help fight homelessness.

Kanturk Cycling Club, a club which boasts its own training velodrome, announced details yesterday of its Duhallow Cycle Tour on Saturday, June 2, in aid of Focus Ireland.

The event, supported by the Cork Sports Partnership and Kraft Foods, will be based at Mallow GAA complex and offers riders aged over 16 two routes through the Duhallow region.

The challenging 145km Mass Rock Tour, which will take riders from Mallow through Banteer, Boherbue, Newmarket, Freemount, Dromcollogher, Broadford, and on to a tough climb up to the Mass Rock, at an elevation of just over 1,160ft, and back through Kanturk to Mallow, is aimed at experienced cyclists.

For those looking for a less challenging route, the 75km Longueville Classic, avoids the climb.

All funds raised will go to Focus Ireland, the charity which works to prevent people becoming, remaining or returning to homelessness. The organisation was founded in 1985 by Sr Stanislaus Kennedy in response to the needs of a group of homeless women.

Focus Ireland supported over 6.500 people last year — an 18% rise on the 2010 figures.

The Cork Sports Partnership strives to increase the number of people participating in sport, exercise and physical activity in Cork.

Its programmes manager, Eithne Hammond, said: “These sportive events are becoming more popular in recent times and it is great to provide opportunities for people of all abilities to get out and partake in physical activity.”

Kraft Foods sales representatives Dave Nagle and Ray O’Mahony are Focus Ireland ambassadors and urged cyclists to get involved.

All participants who register online before May 30 will be entered into a raffle for two tickets to a London 2012 Olympic event.

* You can get more details and register on www.kanturkcycling.com or www.focusireland.ie