Garda Charity Cycle Group raise over 65k for six charities

"The event took place at the Jackson Court Hotel and in attendance were Assistant Garda Commissioner Angela Willis and acting Deputy Garda Commissioner Paul Clearly. A cheque for over €59,000 was presented to the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind while other charities who benefited were Tiglin, Hospice Harolds Cross, Northwest Hospice Sligo, the Alice Leahy Trust and Simon Ireland."

"The Garda cycling group has raised over €1m for charities over the past three decades. In August, Garda Tour De Force embarked on a 500 km cycle from Cadi-Moixero National Park in the Pyrenees bordering Andorra and Spain, finishing in Barcelona, with the assistance of their counterparts in the Spanish Police. The Garda Tour De Force consists of gardaí and friends who have been cycling annually since 1991 to raise funds for Irish charities."

"Among the previous beneficiaries have been Crumlin Children's Hospital, Debra Ireland, Aware, the Irish Heart Foundation, the Alzheimer's Society of Ireland and Cystic Fibrosis Ireland. The Marie Keating Foundation, Laura Lynn, Age Action, St John of Gods (Re Nua) and Trust, a charity caring for the homeless in Dublin, have also benefited. On their first fundraising ride 33 years ago, members of the team cycled to Ashford, Co Wicklow, to raise money for The HolyAngels Infant Intensive Care Unit at the Coombe Hospital, Dublin."

An event at the Jackson Court Hotel saw Assistant Garda Commissioner Angela Willis and acting Deputy Garda Commissioner Paul Clearly in attendance. A cheque for over €59,000 was presented to the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind. Other beneficiary groups included Tiglin, Hospice Harolds Cross, Northwest Hospice Sligo, the Alice Leahy Trust and Simon Ireland. Garda Tour De Force has raised over €1 million for charities over three decades. The group completed international routes such as a 500 km Pyrenees-to-Barcelona ride and a 2023 500 km Basel-to-Bad Toelz Alpine route, raising €32,000 that year. Participants must raise at least €1,000 and cover their own costs. Major sponsors included Fleet Plan, Copper Face Jacks and FBD Insurance.

Read at Irish Independent