I recently completed a 478 mile (769 kms.) cycle across the north of Spain. To view the journal and photos from my trip, see www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/mycamino

If you like this journal, you might also like to visit http://www.cmrf.org/sponsorshipPage/show/558

To visit the journals of other cycle adventures that I have taken part in, click on www.crazyguyonabike.com/helpasickchild

Arrival at the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela after an 8 day cycle across Northern Spain.

The cycle mentioned below, eventually became the Howth Head to Malin Head to Mizen Head Cycle (1,146 km or 712 miles) done over 9 days and completed at Mizen Head at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday 19th. July 2009.

Some of the participants used the event to raise money for the very worthy charity, Goal. I used the event to raise funds for Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin and the result of my efforts was €6,295. A big, big thank you on behalf of myself and Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin to all who supported me. Donations can still be made through the donation page that the hospital has set up for me at :  http://www.cmrf.org/sponsorshipManager/Usr_EventDonation.asp?EventId=223

My journal and photos from the cycle can be viewed at: Howth2Malin2Mizen Journal and Photos

I will be taking part in a fundraising cycle for the benefit of Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin, from Malin Head to Mizen Head from 14th. to 19th. July. Our chosen route covers a distance of 433 miles. We will be averaging 75 miles a day for the first five days and just 26 miles (Bantry to Mizen Head) on the last day. Please sponsor me by clicking on the fundraising page that has been set up for me by Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital at: http://www.cmrf.org/sponsorshipManager/Usr_EventDonation.asp?EventId=223  

If you then e-mail me at onyerbike@the-pedaling-pensioner.org I will insert your name in an appropriate box on my website http://the-pedaling-pensioner.org/M2M.html and inform you.

I  did two 8 hour non-stop fundraising cycles at the entrance to East Pier, Howth on the May Bank Holiday weekend (10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the 2nd./3rd. May 2009) for the benefit of Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin. I had intended to cycle on Monday 4th. also but the weather was unsuitable. However, I still managed to raise €2,145 in sponsorship. A big, big thank you to all of you who supported a great cause and made the saddle-sores acquired in pursuit of my fundraising goal, worthwhile!

Article in Irish Independent:

My web site

My Bebo Page

Malin Head to Mizen Head Cycle 2009

Cycle Across America 2010

Monterey Cycle Challenge 2008

Members of CanTeen Ireland on an adventure outing.

I am hoping to do an 8 hour cycle on a training frame, in a shopping centre, in the near future, to raise much needed funding for CanTeen Ireland. CanTeen Ireland is a nation-wide support group for young people who have or have had cancer. The date and venue for the cycle will be announced later. (Probably in early summer).
Please visit CanTeen Ireland’s website at http://www.canteen.ie

CanTeen Gang at Barretstown

Irish Independent. Saturday 17th. January 2009.

Elaine Keogh

Saturday January 17 2009

A TWO-year-old boy who suffers autism will finally get an assistance dog after his mother raised €45,000 towards the cause.

It’s believed it is one of the largest sums ever fund-raised by an individual in the history of the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind, who provide and train assistance dogs.

Lucy Owens from Tullyallen, Co Louth, yesterday presented the cheque to the organisation, and, if all goes to plan, her son Joey should have a dog sometime next year.

"The effort she put in has been phenomenal. For an individual with their family and friends, this has to be the one of the greatest fund-raising efforts in the history of the association," said its regional development managerPaddy Coyle.

Mrs Owens and her husband Pat believe the whole family will benefit from the dog and its calming effect. They have three other children, including an elder son who is also autistic.

Among the many events held was an abseil down the side of a hotel by school mums and other friends.

Last week pensioner Eugene O’Leary cycled for eight hours in a shopping centre and raised another €1,200.

"It took on a life of its own and every day people are coming up and giving me money," said Mrs Owens.

Yesterday she presented the cheque at Aiken army barracks in Dundalk as the abseil was done under the supervision of army Sgt Alan O’Reilly.

- Elaine Keogh

Did an 8 hour non-stop cycle with my bike mounted on a training frame in the Scotch Hall Centre in Drogheda on Saturday 10^th. January 2009 to raise some sponsorship towards the funding of an assistance dog for a little autistic boy named Joey Owens. The cycle raised €1,200 on the day and there is some money still coming in.

Below is the family story as told by Joey’s  mother, Lucy – seen below in the photo. Please visit her bebo page at http://www.bebo.com/GuideDogForJ

Joey with Eugene: “The Pedaling Pensioner”
Both my sons have Autism, Luke is 8 and past the age of needing an assistance dog, Joey is a whole other story, he’s 2 1/2 and very, very lively. For his own safety and the sanity of his parents we are on a crusade to fundraise for an assistance dog for Joey!!!! We also have two lovely daughters Grace(6) and Rachel (1).
We had a bucket collection in Drogheda Friday 24th Oct and raised €5750! Thanks to all who helped out! We just had our sponsored ABSEIL down the d-hotel in Drogheda, with special participants, TV3`s Aidan Cooney & Sinead Desmond! Thanks to Sergeant Alan O`Reilly from The Defence Forces and to the D hotel. It was an amazing day thanks to all 26 participants!!!!! Alan & tha army guys presented Joey & Luke with a special needs bike, it was so touching! great day!!!!!!!!

Due to the present economic situation, I have been unsuccessful to date in raising the necessary corporate sponsorship of €12,000 to enable me to become the first Irish “Old Age Pensioner” to cycle across America and thereby raising my sponsorship target of €250,000 for Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin.

Unless the necessary corporate sponsorship is raised by the closing date for entries on Saturday 12^th. April, I will have to postpone my attempt until 2010. I will however be carrying on with my efforts to reach my fundraising target of €250,000 for the Children’s Hospital and will be taking part in and organizing fundraising events throughout the year.

I am completely inexperienced in raising corporate sponsorship and my amateurish efforts to date have been almost completely unsuccessful. I am now asking (begging) anybody with experience in the field to help out and give me some urgently needed advice and mentoring, so that I can go ahead with the planned event this summer. Please help!

My e-mail address is eugene.cycleogical@gmail.com Web site: http://the-pedaling-pensioner.org Bebo page: http://www.bebo.com/PedalingPensioner Phone: 086-0571612