17th annual Tour of Kildare labelled a massive success despite the damp weather
(Main pic by Aishling Conway)
The 17th Annual Martin Earley Tour of Kildare took place on Sunday, August 12th and, despite the damp weather and an oil spill on part of the route, was labelled a massive success as hundreds of enthusiastic cyclists took to the roads all in aid of the Marie Keating Foundation.
The Tour of Kildare is always a highlight of the Foundation’s summer calendar. The cancer Foundation receives little government funding so relies heavily on events like the Tour to continue to deliver our lifesaving cancer awareness and prevention services.
This event simply could not happen each year without the Naas Cycling Club who so generously donate their time and expertise to manage the event with Cycling Ireland, now in its 17th year. The Marie Keating Foundation cannot thank them enough for their ongoing support.
Director of Fundraising, Linda Keating said: “While our turnout was a little down due to the weather, it did nothing to dampen the enthusiasm and determination of the hundred of riders who came out to support the event and enjoy the route planned. There was drama the day before the event, when a 100 meter oil spill was flagged on the infamous climb known as ‘the Wall’. But thanks to swift action by the Naas Cycling Club and our volunteers the area was cordoned off and the cycle went ahead safely with just a small divergence in the route.”
The Marie Keating Foundation could not run this event without the support of so many very generous people. Our very special thanks go out to, The Cahill Family and the Frame Shop, Eurocycles, Swans on the Green, The Naas Court Hotel, An Garda Siochana, the Higgins Family, Ballygowan, Montigue Foods, Fyffes, Broderick Brothers, Joe Mallon Motors, Naas Photography Club, Lidl Ireland all our volunteers and motor cycle marshals, The Dublin Harley-Davidson Lads and of course Irish cycling legend Martin Earley himself who yet again participated in this event.
The Martin Earley Tour of Kildare has raised almost a quarter of a million in the past 17 years. Money raised from the Tour of Kildare supports the Marie Keating Foundation’s work in the community in Kildare and surrounding areas with our nursing services and cancer support campaigns. In 2017, the nursing team talked to over 11,250 people in Leinster about how to reduce their cancer risk and spot the signs and symptoms early when chances of survival are highest.
The nursing team have visited a lot of towns in Kildare including Naas, Kilcullen, Newbridge, and Maynooth. Our nurses also visited towns and villages in Carlow, Dublin, Kilkenny, Laois, Longford, Louth, Meath, Offaly, Westmeath, Wexford and Wicklow with their Leinster outreach programme.
Thank Marie Keating Foundation would like to thank everyone who has participated in its past events over the years.