Race The Rás 2013 Charity Cycle Launched in Croke Park
March 27, 2013
At the launch were from left Donegal footballer Mark McHugh, Dublin ladies football vice captain Sinead Finnegan, Mayo footballer Jason Doherty and former Dublin footballer Paul Clarke. INPHO
€260,000 raised since 2011
2013 will see more female participants in this unique charity campaign
A host of top sports stars past and present joined forces with World Track Cyclist, Caroline Ryan, in Croke Park today to officially launch the Race The Rás charity cycle.
Entering its third year, the charity race will see almost 150 amateur cyclists, accompanied by a host of current and former GAA stars, lining up to bike across Ireland from May 19th to May 26th. All money raised will go to the National Breast Cancer Research Institute. This year, Race The Rás is being kindly supported by AIB, Hyundai, Fáilte Ireland, KC Sports, EMC2, Carton House, Neogen, Pembroke Communications and The Gathering.
Race the Rás is the charity cycle linked with the An Post Rás, Ireland's most prominent cycling event. The cyclists will start three hours ahead of the professionals and will travel through 13 different counties.
Stage finishes will be in the towns of Longford, Nenagh, Listowel, Glengarrif, Mitchelstown, Carlow, Naas, and Skerries on the final day.
Current Dublin Senior Football selector Declan Darcy spoke of the endurance needed in order to undertake the cycle; "This is a serious undertaking. Each of the eight stages averages 146kms in length - 1,260kms in total - and will take over five and a half hours to complete, so the eight-day cyclists will be on the bike for almost 50 hours in total. Most families in Ireland have been affected in some way by cancer and this is just a small way former GAA players can help raise much needed money. We are also delighted that more women will be taking part this year and Dublin vice captain Sinead Finnegan was here today to show support."
Chairperson of National Breast Cancer Research Institute (NBCRI), Michael Kerin said: "NBCRI are delighted to be associated with Race the Rás and we are honoured that they chose NBCRI as their charity this year. We wish them every success in their endeavours and we are extremely grateful for the profile and funds which will hopefully result from this."
Broadcasting legend Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh was on hand to launch the charity race and said; "I am delighted to be here today at the official launch. Race The Rás has been a huge success raising €260,000 to date since it began in 2011. I would ask people to donate no matter how small as it will make a huge difference to the National Breast Cancer Research Institute."
To register for the cycle, please log on to http://racetheras.com/event-registration/?regevent_action=register&event_id=1. With eight stages to choose from, cyclists can opt to do all eight stages, a single stage or opt for a combination of two or three stages. Tweet
