Cyclists wanted.....

Seven time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong has lent his support to the Irish Cancer Society by offering a trip of a lifetime to one lucky participant in Clare hurler Tony Griffin’s ‘Ride For The Cure’ due to take place in Ireland at the end of this month.

Armstrong, himself a cancer survivor, spent a day in the company of the Ballyea hurler recently and was so impressed with Griffin’s drive and determination that he has offered to fly the highest fundraiser and a guest of their choice from Ireland to his hometown of Austin, Texas where they will meet the cycling legend. The two will then attend an awards dinner, participate in Armstrong’s annual Ride for the Roses charity cycle alongside Armstrong and Griffin and receive some memorabilia, including a photo with Armstrong from the event.

Tony Griffin’s Irish leg of his ‘Ride For The Cure’ takes place on the weekend of June 3oth and July 1 st and there are still places available on either the two-day or single day cycle. Day one will see participants leave from their nearest cycle centre in Sligo, Ballina, Limerick, Cavan / Monaghan or Dublin and head inland to Athlone where they will stay overnight. The following morning the cyclists will merge together for Griffin’s final leg of his 7,000kms journey across Canada and Ireland which will see him raise a cool million euros for the Irish Cancer Society, the Lance Armstrong Foundation and Ovarian Cancer Canada.

Griffin, a 2006 hurling All-Star, put aside his commitments with the Clare hurling team this season and decided to undertake this mammoth challenge after his father Jerome died of asbestos related lung cancer in 2005. With just over three weeks to go in his eight week odyssey, the Clare man is well on his way to reaching his target and is looking forward to joining Irish enthusiasts on his final two stages in Ireland. Already signed up are GAA stars, Davy Fitzgerald, Walter O’Connor and Michael ‘Duxie’ Walsh, with Dublin football boss Pillar Caffrey also lending his support.

Each intending participant is asked to raise a minimum of €1,000 towards Griffin’s goal of one millions euros, with the highest fundraiser earning a trip to Texas to meet Armstrong. The Tony Griffin Foundation and the Irish Cancer Society will provide food, accommodation, transport, full back-up support and insurance for all cyclists and ensure there will be lively entertainment provided in both overnight stops in Athlone and Ennis. Indeed, Ennis Town Council have all but closed Griffin’s hometown down for the weekend with a street festival and Fleadh Ceoil just some of the entertainment promised. With 70 riders already signed up for the challenge, interested parties can contact Eleanor at the Irish Cancer Society on (01) 3210535 for an application and fundraising

Jimmy Durcan is the Mayo county organiser contact him at 09672430 or 08512878825