On yer bike... pedal power set to raise thousands for charities

Singer Katie Melua told us there were nine million bicycles in Beijing, and the way things are going, Meath could soon be catching up on the Chinese capital. Numerous people are taking to pedal power, with many local charities set to benefit over the next few months. Leo Finlay and Brian Malone from Bective, along with Pat O'Reilly from Proudstown, Navan, are set to take on the Kingspan IHF Cycle Challenge from Paris to Geneva from 24th to 29th July next. The three men are paying their own travelling and accommodation expenses and all funds raised will go to the Irish Hospice Foundation. The cycle covers 510 kilometres over four days and takes in a 12-kilometre climb reaching 1,332 metres, the Col de la Faucille, which is a regular climb in the Tour de France. As part of the fundraising, a draw was held for two tickets for the Leinster v Clermont Auvergne Heineken Cup quarter final match at the RDS which was very well supported and the tickets were won by Billy Faulkner of Navan RFC. All donations and support are very welcome and sponsorship may be given online via mycharity.ie. The next fundraising venture is a bagpack in Tesco Navan, on 27th, 28th and 29th May and in SuperValu, Johnstown, on 29th May. Volunteers would be very welcome. Meanwhile, young Navan man Graham Macken is taking part in a trip around Ireland on his bicycle in aid of the Alzheimer's Centre in Navan. "My mother was involved in setting up the Alzheimer's Centre along with Gerry Leech and a number of others at Whistlemount, on the Kells Road, in 1992, after her mother, Mary Duffy, passed away," Graham explained. "She had Alzheimer's. The centre is struggling to stay open and is catering beyond its capacity such is the need for their services." His solo-effort trip on 5th June takes him from Navan-Ballymena (167km), Ballymena-Donegal town (154km), Donegal town-Tuam (171km), Tuam-Listowel (157km), Listowel-Dungarvan (173km), Dungarvan-Arklow (152km) and Arklow-Navan (128km). "I'm an amateur cyclist and only started cycling two years ago," Graham said. One of his friends, Claire Nugent, who is helping out with the fundraising, has secured the loan of her mother's jeep for the drivers coming offering support and carrying supplies. "Ben Garry is giving me the use of his bike as a spare and a couple of spare wheels," he said. "We were looking for offers on cycling gear and any company to kindly fund the cost of petrol for the week, to keep costs down to a minimum so all proceeds can go to the charity. We are trying to get hotels to put us up along the way to keep the costs down, and so far a number have kindly put us up free of charge, so we're left with Ballymena and Dungarvan to sort out." Sponsorship All sponsorship and donations are hugely appreciated and people can donate at www.mycharity.ie/event/grahams_cycle_for_alzheimers and can keep an eye on events on Graham's Facebook page. As part of the fundraising, there will be a music night in Beggy's at Bridge Street, Navan, on 30th April with acts Henrietta Game, Sarah Mai Leech, Minty and the Freshmen, and a night in the Backroom in the Lantern on 28th May, with The Whatmans, Joy Booth, Ruairi Coogan and Liam Gilsenan. Other events include table quizzes in Navan O'Mahonys and the Old Bridge Inn, sponsorship cards and setting up the bicycle in Navan Town Centre and cycling for the day on Thursday 6th May, as well as a couple of days bag-packing in Dunnes Stores. There will be a five-a-side soccer tournament at the MDL grounds in Navan on 8th May. The Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association has organised a sponsored 36-hour cycle marathon on Friday 14th May and Saturday 15th May at the 24-hour Tesco store in Drogheda. Motor Neurone Disease is an incurable condition that leaves people unable to do everyday things. Walking, talking and swallowing may become virtually impossible, yet the mind and senses remain intact. The association was founded in May 1985 by a small group of friends and this year is marking 25 years of care. The association functions as a support organisation for people who have MND, their carers and families. Their work entails the co-ordination of home-care services and facilities, information service, financial assistance for home nursing or care and the supply of specialised equipment and aids on loan to patients. Funds needed to support their role must be raised by public appeals and local fundraising events. The Aisling Group International hosts the 'never to be done again' M3 Motorway Cycle on 16th May, which will include the commemorative cycle for the late Paul Healion, the Dunboyne and Irish international cyclist who died in a road traffic crash last year. Families and individual cyclists are invited to take part in this event. For further information, contact (046) 907 4300 or (046) 907 5979, see www.m3cycle.ie or email m3cycle@gmail.com. Registration forms are available at Aisling Group International at the CYWS Building, Fair Green, Navan, or Navan Cycle Centre, Fair Green, Navan. Registration closes on 10th May, and participants must be registered to take part in this event which will begin at the M3's southern toll plaza near Dunboyne. On 30th April next, two Bailieboro men, Paul McAleer and Simon Hutchinson, are taking part in a charity cycle from Dublin to Bailieboro. They are going to Haiti in October with the Haven Partnership, a charity that builds houses in Haiti for the poorest. The charity has a year-long operation in Haiti, but twice a year it brings out several hundred volunteers from Ireland to take part in its projects. The two volunteers will spend a week there living and working with the charity, and intend to raise €9,000 to take part on the trip. The cycle will move off from the city centre at about 11am and will make in way through Meath, passing Clonee, Dunboyne, Dunshaughlin, Navan and Kells. The lads will be having a bucket collection along the way. The cycle will be followed by a charity rock night in the Bailie Hotel, Bailieboro, starting at 9pm with four local bands and a DJ. Further information can be obtained by ringing (086) 879 1321 or (086) 171 5884.