Tour De Munster cycle raises over half a million euro
Sandra and Rachel Willoughby from DSI Waterford Branch pictured with champion cyclist Sean Kelly and tour founder Paul Sheridan at the official cheque presentation for the 25th annual Tour de Munster charity cycle on Saturday, 20th December. Pic: Diane Cusack
The Tour de Munster charity cycle has once again made a significant impact, raising over €543,000 in aid of Down Syndrome Ireland (DSI) this year.
The impressive total was officially announced recently during a cheque presentation ceremony attended by Waterford cycling legend and tour supporter Sean Kelly.
This year marked the 25th edition of the tour, which took place from August 7 to 10.
The tour saw participants take on a demanding 600km journey through the counties of Munster.
Starting in Cork, the route travelled through Tallow and Lismore in West Waterford during stage one.
It then made its way towards Killaloe in county Clare and Kenmare, county Kerry, before finishing the loop back in Cork.
The efforts of the cyclists involved aimed to raise vital funds that will have a profound impact on the lives of individuals with down syndrome across Munster, supporting essential services and facilities that benefit both them and their families throughout the region.
Each cyclist, supported by family, friends and dedicated volunteers, covered their own expenses to ensure that every cent raised went directly to DSI and other chosen support charities.
Several cyclists also opted to raise funds for causes close to their hearts, including the West Cork Down Syndrome Support Group and Cork ARC Cancer Support House.
The total raised by this year’s Tour exceeded €575,000.
Speaking during the cheque presentation, Paul Sheridan, founder of Tour de Munster, said:
“Year after year, the dedication of our cyclists, volunteers and supporters has helped us grow this initiative into something truly meaningful. Raising over €575,000 this year is a remarkable achievement and the 543K raised for Munster branches of DSI will make a significant difference to the vital work they carry out daily.”
Sean Kelly, a longtime supporter of Tour de Munster, commended everyone who took part in the event, saying, “It’s incredible to witness the remarkable growth of the Tour de Munster over the years and the extraordinary effort put in by every cyclist who takes part.
"I’ve experienced many great achievements throughout my professional career, but the spirit, determination and heart shown on this Tour stands out in a very special way."
Following this year's Tour, Claire Power, Chairperson of Down Syndrome Waterford and South Kilkenny, said, “I want to express a huge thank you to everyone involved for their hard work and dedication over the past year.
"The friendships formed among families, cyclists, volunteers, and the organisation are a huge part of what makes Tour de Munster such an amazing experience. We truly can’t thank everyone enough for their support and commitment."
