Helen O’Leary Memorial Cycle 2009

Would you like to experience a great weekend of camaraderie and craic in late April 2009, while supporting a great cause? Would you like to experience the achievement of cycling from Limerick to Dublin and back, or just completing one leg of the cycle? If so, read on.

In an effort to help me reach my fundraising target of €250,000 for The Children’s’ Medical & Research Foundation of Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin, a cyclist friend of mine (Pat Gleeson) from Cratloe, Co. Clare, is organising a fundraising cycle (The Helen O’Leary Memorial Cycle 2009) from Limerick to Crumlin on Saturday 25^th. April 2009 and returning to Limerick on the following day.

The following are the provisional details of the cycle:

Depart Limerick University at 8 a.m. on Saturday 5^th. April.

Stop when we reach Portlaoise for soup and sandwiches.

Arrive Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin at approximately 6 p.m. to be greeted by Miss Diva Next Door 2008 and some of her fellow competition contestants, plus Foundation staff.

We will then go to our hotel for the night, where entertainment will be provided by any one of a number of bands/folk groups who have offered their services free of charge. Details will be provided at a later date.

On the following morning we will depart Crumlin at 8 a.m. sharp and head back for Limerick where we will be greeted by some more personalities.

Transport for luggage to and from Dublin will be provided.

Requirements for participation in the event:

An application form together with a deposit of €200 made payable by Bank Draft or Money Order to “TheHelen O’Leary Memorial Cycle” must reach the organizers (addresses below) before Monday 6^th. April 2009. This deposit will be used to pay for hotel accommodation in Dublin, plus transport costs and snacks along the route and the event cycle jersey.

Each participant is also requested to raise a minimum of €500 made payable to “Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin” and forward it to Pat Gleeson, Station Road, Cratloe, Co. Clare or Eugene O’Leary, 67 Grace O’Malley Drive, Howth, Co. Dublin prior to the event. It can also be handed over on the day of the event, but should be handed over as a Bank Draft, Postal Order or cheque made payable to the hospital.

Get on your bikes and enjoy yourselves and in doing so support research into finding cures for childhood diseases which are presently terminal and for the provision of support for sick children and their families at Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin.

Registration form can be downloaded by clicking here

To read an account and view photos of my recent fundraising cycle across Ireland, please click here

Left to right are Stephen Neilan, Colm Daly and Lee Gibbons taking a break at Broadmeadows Estuary, Malahide, Co. Dublin, during their 23 mile fundraising cycle for Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin. These three boys from Howth, County Dublin undertook and completed the 23 mile cycle not having ever cycled more than 6 miles previously. Their fundraising efforts raised 526 euro. Well done lads. You are a credit to your parents and a great example to young people. Next stop Co. Meath

Above are Padraig McGarry who also took part in the cycle, Stephen, Colm and Lee at the last rest stop near Sutton Golf Club.

Below are Colm, Lee and Stephen with Padraig, after lunch at Oscar Taylor’s in Malahide. Thanks again guys, and well done.

Rosanna Davison, Cheryl O’Rourke (Miss Bebo Ireland 2008) and some of the contestants in this year’s DIVA NEXT DOOR on Bebo (formerly known as Irish Bebo Babes) have very kindly offered to take part in a fundraising static cycle – cycling on a bike mounted on a training frame at St. Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre, Dublin, on Friday 18th July 12-5pm (PRESS PHOTO CALL 1pm). The cycle is in aid of Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin, Dublin.

They will be assisting in the fundraising efforts of local cyclist Eugene O’Leary – The Pedaling Pensioner — who has set himself the target of raising a total of 250,000 euro by cycling from Galway to Howth (150 miles) – The Helen O’Leary C2C Memorial Cycle – on Monday 4th. August and by taking part in Crumlin Hospital’s 500k Cycle Challenge in Monterey California, between 3rd. and 13th. September and then cycling across the United States, from Astoria, Oregon to Portsmouth, New Hampshire from 21st. June to 10th. August 2010. (50 days and 3,629 miles)

The attempt to cycle across the United States, will result in Eugene being the first Irish “Old Age Pensioner” to do so, and will hopefully be a big factor in helping him to reach his goal of raising 250,000 euro for Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin, in memory of his late daughter Helen, whose very special care by the nurses, doctors and staff of that hospital, enabled Eugene, his wife, sons and daughters to enjoy “the presence of an angel” in their family until her death at 19 years old.

So, come along to St. Stephens Green Shopping Centre, Dublin, on Friday 18th. July between 12 and 5 pm Watch the DIVA NEXT DOOR girls “get on their bikes”, and support a great charity.

PLEASE NOTE: PRESS PHOTO CALL 1pm

WHAT:     Pedaling Pensioner’s Hospital Fundraiser

WHEN:     Friday 18th July 2008

From 12-5pm (PRESS PHOTO CALL 1pm)

WHERE:    St. Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre, Dublin.

For Further Information please Contact:

DIVA NEXT DOOR (formerly known as Irish Bebo Babes)

Contact: Stephen Saleh

Telephone: (021) 4223005

Email: press@divanextdoor.ie

Web: www.divanextdoor.ie

The Pedaling Pensioner

67 Grace O’Malley Drive, Howth, Co. Dublin.

Telephone: 086-0571612

Email: eugene.cycleogical@gmail.com

Web: http://the-pedaling-pensioner.org

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DIVA NEXT DOOR ® is a Helios Branding marketing initiative product.

For more information on our services visit http://www.helios.ie

I will be doing a static 8 hour non-stop fundraising cycle (cycling with my bike mounted on a training frame) in Donaghmede Shopping Centre, between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. on both Sat. 12th. and Sun. 13th. of this month (July 2008).

Please come along and support me in my efforts to raise 250,000 euro for Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin.

Raise €100 for Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin and take part in a fun cycle, departing Howth Dart Station at 11 a.m. on Sunday 27^th. July and proceeding to Kinsealy, and Malahide Estuary. We will cross Malahide Estuary and proceed to the Seatown Roundabout and then back to Malahide via the scenic estuary road once again.

Carvery lunch will be provided for all participants at the Grand Hotel, Malahide. After lunch we will proceed back to Howth via the coast road and pass through Portmarnock and Baldoyle.

The total distance travelled will be 22 miles, which will be done at a leisurely pace. Bikes and helmets will be provided for all participants.

For details and sponsorship cards, contact me at 086-0571612 or e-mail: eugene.cycleogical@gmail.com

Helen (15th. August 1982 – 17th. February 2002) on the night of her Debs.

My fundraising cycles for Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin are all done in her memory.

Lucky old beggar!