It’s that time of year again! The Annual Mayo Pink Ribbon Charity Cycle will take place on Saturday April 30. Yet again the beauty of Mayo will be showcased as three new routes take participants through our majestic countryside. With distances of 51km, 108km and 147km there’s something to suit everyone in this event. The organisers are delighted that once again the legendary Sean Kelly and their patron, Taoiseach Enda Kenny, will lead the cycle.
The Mayo Pink Ribbon Charity Cycle is now in its seventh year and has become a well-established event on the national cycling calendar. Already this year there are cyclists registered from 14 counties and from England and Scotland. The organisers look forward to welcoming them all and showcasing this beautiful county of ours.
The routes bring cyclists through much of the county and unite communities in a one-day fundraising blitz for a cause close to the hearts of so many people. Every town, every village and every neighbourhood has at some stage been touched by breast cancer and this cycle gives those communities an opportunity to do something tangible about it. Research into this disease is the key to saving lives and Mayo Pink Ribbon is passionate about the need for breast cancer research. All money raised by the organisation goes to supporting the amazing work being done in the west of Ireland to develop better treatments for all forms of this disease.
This event has been dubbed the friendliest cycling event due in no small part to the huge welcome and support given to us by the communities and businesses around Mayo. The event's success couldn’t happen without their support and the organisers hope they will come out in force again this year. The Mayo Pink Ribbon Charity Cycle is a leisure cycle, not a race, so there is no pressure on participants, just the pleasure of taking part and the sheer joy of finishing. There is no entry fee but as the cycle is a fundraising event for Breast Cancer Research all entrants are asked to raise a minimum of €100 for this very worthy cause.
The 51km route is Castlebar-Bohola-Foxford-Pontoon-Castlebar. The 108km is Castlebar-Swinford-Foxford-Knockmore-Ballina-Crossmolina-Laherdaun-Pontoon-Castlebar. The 147km route is Castlebar-Swinford-Foxford-Knockmore-Ballina-Crossmolina-Keenagh-Furnace-Newport-Castlebar. To register or for more details see www.mayopinkribbon.ie Cyclists can also register at Dental Care Ireland, (formerly McHugh Dental Practice ) Station Road, Castlebar, Co. Mayo. Or you can call (086 ) 8562423.
