All Star Clare hurler Tony Griffin arrived back home to Ennis on Sunday July 1st to a well earned civic reception after an eight week journey in which he completed his 7,000km "Ride for the Cure" across Canada and Ireland. Despite very limited experience as a cyclist Tony Griffin announced in February that he intended to cycle across the undulating Canadian countryside and the more familiar road from Dublin to Ennis to raise money for and an awareness of cancer research.  As the journey reached its conclusion, Tony was accompanied by nearly 150 fundraising cyclists and received a welcome to remember from thousands of locals who lined the streets of Ennis to pay tribute to the fundraising efforts of the Ballyea native. Founded in memory of his late father Jerome, the Tony Griffin Foundation aim is to raise funds for cancer charities such as the Irish Cancer Society and the Lance Armstrong Foundation. With well over Eu500,000 raised to date, the foundation expects that the outstanding fundraising efforts of all those involved will help realise a target of Eu1million. Almost 150 cyclists from all over the country joined Tony on Saturday morning as he travelled from Lucan via Maynooth, Kilcock, Enfield, Kinnegad, Killbeggan and Moate before arriving in Athlone where the local convent at Our Lady of the Bower offered accommodation for the entire team for the evening. Today saw the team depart Athlone at 9.30am and visit the towns of Ballinasloe, Loughrea, Gort, Crusheen and Barefield before the journey reached its triumphant end in Ennis town square at 3pm.  Reflecting on the journey and the arriving back home to Ennis, Tony Griffin said: "Having biked 6,500kms over forty eight days I have met many brave cancer survivors and sufferers, had two crashes, cried like a baby in the pouring rain of the prairies in gusting wind, have been touched by so many incredibly hospitable and angelic strangers, have made friends for life, have attempted to help steer a ship comprised of over 250 volunteers, have missed family and home, have questioned time and again if we are making any difference, have attempted to squeeze support and sponsorship from anyone who will listen and, most of all, have kept faith that every penny and ounce of exposure we gather will help others to celebrate their lives. "The reception we have received today is truly amazing and it goes to show just how willing people are to support this worthy cause. We cycled from Dublin to Athlone on Saturday and from Athlone to Ennis today and along the way he have been joined by 150 fundraisers each of whom have raised a minimum of Eu1,000 in order to participate. The top fund raiser will be announced tonight with that person winning a training session with none other than Lance Armstrong in his Texas home. To all these cyclists and to all the people throughout Canada and Ireland who have donated through attending fundraisers or online at our website, all I can do is express my deepest gratitude and give my promise that we will continue the work of the foundation in order to do our bit to help find a cure for this disease." Martin Donnelly, M Donnelly Engineering, who is one of the cycle sponsors, spoke of his admiration for Tony Griffin and his gratitude to the volunteers who will accompany Tony on his last leg: "Tony has made an amazingly unselfish decision to forego a year from his hurling career at his very prime in order to further the advancement of research into finding a cure for cancer. His sacrifice has been made worthwhile by all those volunteers, both in Canada and here in Ireland who have given up their free time to raise funds for this worthwhile cause.  On behalf of all those involved with the Tony Griffin Foundation I want to express our thanks to all these people who have volunteered and tip our collective hats to Tony Griffin for his truly superhuman efforts." Jill Clark, Head of Fundraising at the Irish Cancer Society, said: "We are overwhelmed by this hugely successful fundraising story, and the level of enthusiasm and organisation that has gone into it. On behalf of everyone at the Irish Cancer Society, we would like to extend our sincere gratitude to Tony for his tremendous efforts, to his amazing team of supporters and helpers, and to all the cyclists who are joining Tony in the culmination of his epic journey this weekend. 22,500 people will develop cancer this year, and it is projected that this figure will rise to 43,000 cases by 2020. 'Ride for the Cure' will make a real difference for people living in Ireland with cancer now, and those who may be diagnosed in the future."   The Tony Griffin Foundation is indebted to the assistance of Dr Travis McDonagh, Martin Donnelly, Eoin Conroy, Byrne Conroy Consulting and numerous other friends and associates in Ireland and Canada whose voluntary assistance has ensured the "Ride for the Cure" has surpassed even the greatest expectations of Tony with a fund raising target of almost Eu1million well within our grasp. To donate or to learn more about the fundraising efforts visit www.tonygriffinfoundation.com Tweet

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