Irish Times website - Roche, Armstrong for charity cycle

Roche, Armstrong for charity cycle

Roche, Armstrong for charity cycle
ALISON SHEVLIN

Mon, Jul 27, 2009

A charity event is offering people the chance to cycle with Tour de France winners Stephen Roche and Lance Armstrong in aid of the Irish Cancer Society (ICS).

The first Ride4Life will take on August 22nd to coincide with the second leg of the Tour of Ireland cycling event.

Amateurs are being welcomed to ride the same roads as the professionals around Killarney, Co Kerry for a €25 entry fee.

Ride4life is offering two cycle track distances of 85km and 44km. Cyclists taking part in the 85km cycle are asked to raise €125 sponsorship and those joining the 44km cycle are asked to raise €50 sponsorship in adition to the entry fee.

All money raised will go to the ICS.

ICS spokeswoman Deirdre Keane said the charity was expecting at least 1,000 amateur cyclists to attend the day-long event, which it hopes will raise at least €150,000.

As well as raising funds for patient care services and research, those participating will join the same route as seven times Tour winner Armstrong, who will be in Ireland with his Astana team for the first time.

The Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF) announced last week that Dublin would also host the 2009 Livestrong Global Cancer Summit in August 24th to 26th, immediately after his participation in the Tour of Ireland.

Armstrong set up the foundation in 1997 after he was diagnosed with testicular cancer.

© 2009 irishtimes.com