Major Kildare fundraiser to support Little Blue Heroes Foundation
Galway Cycle 2024
The charity Little Blue Heroes Foundation is set to receive a huge boost after the organisers of a major fundraising event agreed to donate the proceeds of their marathon cycle.
And Garda Commissioner Drew Harris was on hand at Barberstown Castle earlier this month to launch the event. The charity provides practical and financial support to families of children who have serious illnesses in Ireland while granting the wish of children it supports to become Honorary Gardaí to empower the child and foster positive engagement with An Garda Síochána.
The 2024 Galway Cycle, hosted and run by past and present students of Maynooth University and has raised almost €2 million over the past 36 years will be run in aid of the charity over the weekend of April 5 to 7, 2024.
The Galway Cycle, which involves more than 100 cyclists making their way from the Co Kildare college to Galway and back has taken place every year since 1987 (with the exception of 2020) and raised almost €2 million for a variety of children’s charities along the way.
The event will see a huge convoy of cyclists and support crew traveling from Maynooth University to Galway on the Friday, and cycling back to Maynooth on the Sunday - a distance of 200kms each way.
Speaking on behalf of Little Blue Heroes, Annmarie Keane urged any experienced cyclists who wish to take part to sign up for the event, and welcomed any donations by non-cyclists.
“The Galway Cycle by Maynooth Students for Charity is such an institution as a charity fundraiser and we are so grateful to them for the help they will give this very special charity.
“The vision of the charity is to support families of children with serious illnesses in Ireland while empowering the lives of children through positive community engagement. And with its long history and amazing record of fundraising, the Galway Cycle certainly lives up to that vision.”
A spokesperson for the Galway Cycle, Conor McHugh said that “Little Blue Heroes is dedicated to improving the lives of children with serious illnesses in Ireland and giving practical support to their families.
“That mission is perfectly aligned with what we in the Galway Cycle have dedicated ourselves to doing for more than three decades. We’re delighted to partner with them on this important event for our 2024 cycle.”
For more information or to register to take part in the event, see galwaycycle.ie and Little Blue Heroes.