The 17th annual Tour De Munster Charity Cycle will once again “share the journey” with Down Syndrome Ireland (DSI) Munster Branches from Thursday 10th – Sunday 13th of August.
This will be the 8th successive year that the national charity has been the beneficiary of popular 600km cycle around the six counties of Munster.
A new addition to this year’s Tour de Munster is the option for cyclists to select their own beneficiary and raise funds and awareness for it. Fundraising can include personal sponsorship, but also commercial sponsorship whereby a sponsor logo placement will accompany a donation attracted by that participant.
Since its inception in 2001, Tour de Munster has raised over €2.4 million for its beneficiaries, with over €1.9 million for DSI alone, with a staggering €285,655 raised in 2016. All cyclists cover their own expenses.
Phil Keohane, Tour de Munster Branch Liaison Officer, and cycle participant, said: “The support DSI Munster branches have received through this partnership over the past seven years has been phenomenal, and we appreciate every cent raised. Funds raised make a tremendous difference to the lives of people with Down syndrome in Munster, as well as their friends and families, by providing vital services and facilities in each county.”
Paul Sheridan, who established Tour de Munster, added: “DSI is an extremely worthy beneficiary of the Tour and over the last seven years of our partnership we have received a huge amount of support from both the charity and families themselves who benefit from the funds raised. It’s important to acknowledge the hard work and dedication from the cyclists and DSI volunteers which has been truly incredible year after year. We are also very grateful to the many companies and the public who have supported the Tour in the past 16 years and we hope they come out and show their support again this August.”
This year’s Tour de Munster begins on Thursday, August 10th in Cork City and continues over four days around the six counties of Munster until it culminates back in Cork on Sunday, August 13th.
Cycling legend, Sean Kelly, who is an avid supporter of Tour de Munster, will once again cycle with the group for the full four days of the Tour. Clare FM, Tipp FM, RedFM and WLR FM are the Official Media Partners of Tour de Munster 2017.
For more information on Tour de Munster log onto www.tourdemunster.com, find it on Facebook, or follow the Tour on twitter @tourdemunster.
For further information on Down Syndrome Ireland please see www.downsyndrome.ie.