'Race the Ras' for cancer charity
A host of amateur cyclist and GAA past and present stars are lining up to bike across Ireland from 19th to 26th May in the third ‘Race The Rás’, a charity cycle in aid of The National Breast Cancer Research Institute (NBCRI).
All money raised will go to the NBCRI. This year, Race The Rás is being supported by AIB, Hyundai, KC Sports, EMC2, Carton House, Neogen, Pembroke Communications and the GPA.
Race the Rás began in 2011 to raise much needed funds for charity by allowing sponsored amateur cyclists to ride the same route of the An Post Rás, on the same day as the Rás itself, except the amateurs start a few hours ahead of the pros.
Already confirmed to support or take part in the cycle include Declan Darcy (Leitrim and Dublin), Collie Moran, Paul Clarke, Shane Ryan (Dublin), Padraic Davis (Longford), three-time All-Star Pádraic Joyce (Galway), All Ireland champion and rugby legend Mick Galwey, Barry O’Shea (Kerry), Anthony Lynch, Niall Cahalane and three-time All-Star Seán Og Ó hÁilpín (Cork), Evan Kelly (Meath), Paul Earley (Roscommon), Davy Hughes (Down), Davy Dalton and a former manager Padraig Nolan (Kildare), two time former Race the Rás winners Paul McCormack, Philip Cassidy former world and world track cyclist champion Caroline Ryan.
Declan Darcy, ex-Leitrim and current Dublin inter-county footballer selector who is taking part in the cycle is asking for former GAA players and residents to take part in the charity initiative. “We need as many people as possible to take part in the race as we want to build on last year’s success and reach our target of raising over €250,000.”
Declan is one of many people personally effected by cancer with the sad passing of his sister last year. “My younger sister Sinéad battled with the most serious form of skin cancer, melanoma. She put up a daily fight against this disease but sadly she passed away. She was only 39 years old with three very small children. I hope that my story and that of Sinéad will help build awareness of breast cancer.”
Roscommon All-Star and Ireland International Rules Manager, Paul Earley explained the endurance needed to participate in the event: “This is a serious undertaking. Each of the eight stages averages 156kms 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.
“There are also a number of mountain stages which will pose huge challenges to many of the GAA players who don’t have the natural body type required for the lengthy mountain climbs.”
To register for the cycle, please log on to http://racetheras.com/event-registration/. With 8 stages to choose from, cyclists can opt to do all 8 stages or a single stage or opt for a combination of 2 or 3 stages. Those wishing to donate can do so by visiting www.racetheras.com/donate.