Munster referees cycle from Virgin Media Park to Thomond for Alzheimer’s Society of Ireland

ON YOUR BIKE: Rugby referees took part in the Whistle and Wheels charity cycle from Virgin Media Park to Thomond, Park. Pic: Eddie O'Hare.

Rugby referees are used to feedback, constructive or otherwise, from the sidelines as they officiate at all levels of the game up and down the country, all season long.

Yet a group of Munster referees got completely positive support as they cycled 100 kilometres from Virgin Media Park to Thomond Park, raising more than €18,000 for the Alzheimer’s Society of Ireland.

The Whistle and Wheels charity cycle was the brainchild of Munster referee Garrett McCabe, who enlisted another 17 colleagues to help raise awareness and vital funds for the Alzheimer’s Society ahead of Munster’s URC clash against Lions at Thomond Park last Saturday.

The cycle may even have highlight the human side of referees but the main objective was to break the €10,000 barrier through their fundraising efforts and they did that in style.

“The day went really well, no incidents and all of us arrived into Limerick safely,” McCabe told the Irish Examiner on Friday.

Adam Kelleher, general manager Bessboro day service Alzheimer sociey of Ireland, with John Moynihan, Ben Horgan, Shane Kierans, Garrett McCabe, Eddie Hogan-O'Connell, Alex Aherne , Brendan O'Connor and Dave Egar, Sunday's Well RFC. Pic: Eddie O'Hare.

“There was great craic afterwards back in Garryowen for pints, pizza and watching the match and we hit €18k this morning.”

The referee said Whistle & Wheels was an idea hatched a year ago amongst a group of referees in Munster “to do something outside of refereeing for a charitable cause”.

“One of our referees, his mother, suffers from it and she's been looked after by the Alzheimer's Society, so it was an easy decision on the cause we would cycle for. We said we'd hit 10 grand for Alzheimer's. That was the idea.”

The cycling referees also gained support from the clubs along their route, with Sunday's Well seeing them off from Virgin Media Park, rest stops along the way at Mallow, Charleville and Garryowen before arrival at Thomond Park.

“There are 64,000 people diagnosed with dementia in this country and about 11,000 new cases every year so we love being able to give a check to Alzheimer's, the work they do is phenomenal.”