West Ireland Cycling, Salerno students, and a number of volunteers have been out in force generously offering all kinds of wonderful services, including tasty smoothies, in the hope of raising up to €5,000 for Galway-based charity the Sunflowers Chernobyl Appeal.
As part of Ireland’s National Bike Week, taking place between June 13 and 20, staff at West Ireland Cycling have teamed up with students from Salerno Secondary school to hold the fundraising event in Eyre Square which is offering bicycle hire and maintenance, as well as smoothies with a difference. Bike enthuasiasts and smoothie lovers are encouraged to attend the event which will be held until this Sunday with every penny going towards this deserving charity.
West Ireland Cycling’s green coloured hired bicycles are by now a common sight around Galway and during this event the public will be able to hire straight from the stall. The first two hours are free of charge and there will be a €2 charge per hour after that. Do you think your own bicycle is in need of a bit of TLC? Well never fear because the experienced West Ireland Cycling staff will be on hand to offer advice on maintenance and carry out minor repairs.
The public will also get to see first hand how clever Salerno students, with the help of West Ireland Cycling, came up with the innovative idea of making delicious smoothies with machines powered by bicycles.
This is not the first time that owner of West Ireland Cycling, Liam Codd, and his staff have organised events to raise money for the Sunflowers Chernobyl Appeal. After watching a TV programme three years ago about the disaster and the plight of the children affected by it the bicycle businessman decided to get involved in fundraising for the charity.
“Two years ago we raised up to €800 with a charity cycle and last year we had a bike hire event in Eyre Square which raised €1,800. Every penny we raise will go to this charity which will be bringing a group of children over here in a month’s time. We’re hoping to raise €5,000 and it will be nice to be able to present the cheque to them,” he said.
West Ireland Cycling, based in Upper Dominick Street, was set up by Liam Codd four years ago and caters for the various needs of cyclists by offering several different cycling tours and bicycle hire services.
The Sunflowers Chernobyl Appeal, based in Ballinasloe, is a voluntary and registered charity which is dedicated to helping the Chernobyl children who live in contaminated land destroyed by the nuclear disaster in 1986.
For more information about the fundraising event or about West Ireland Cycling contact 091 588 830 or email [email protected]. For information regarding the Sunflowers Chernobyl Appeal contact 090 9673832.
