‘Get on your bike’ and help fight cancer with Former Tour de France winner and World Champion Stephen Roche!

Irish Cancer Society launches inaugural Ride4Life charity cycle in association with Tour of Ireland

On Saturday, 22nd August, hundreds of people will have the opportunity to ‘get on their bikes’ and get pedalling around Killarney, Co. Kerry with Former Tour de France winner Stephen Roche as part of the first ever Ride4Life charity cycle in aid of the Irish Cancer Society.

Ride4life coincides with the second leg of the Tour of Ireland so cyclists can ride along the same roads as the professionals and at the same time help fight cancer – the same reason Lance Armstrong is back in the saddle.

Stephen Roche, Former Tour de France winner and Kathleen O Meara, Head of Advocacy and Communications - Irish Cancer Society

The Ride4Life is a fun cycle event comprising of an 85km cycle or a 44km cycle – it’s not a race and all are welcome to sign up, take part and enjoy the day. All cyclists joining the Ride4Life are requested to pay an entry fee of €25 upon registration. Cyclists taking part in the 85km cycle are asked to raise an additional €125 (total minimum sponsorship requested is €150) and cyclists taking part in the 44km cycle are asked to raise an additional €50 (total minimum sponsorship requested is €75) – all money raised will go to the Irish Cancer Society, the national charity for cancer care, to help fight against cancer.

What makes this Ride4Life so special is that while raising funds for patient care services and research it also runs along the second stage of the Tour of Ireland – so while your cycling on Saturday, 22nd August the professionals, including Lance Armstrong will be racing at the same time on the same roads (just a little further along the route).

The Tour of Ireland following on from the Tour de France is professional cycle race, held from the 21st - 23rd August from Enniskerry in Co. Wicklow and finishing in Co. Cork. The Tour of Ireland race will provide some spectacular racing with seven times Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong bringing his Astana team to Ireland for the first time. Six times Tour de France stage winner Mark Cavendish also returns to Ireland where he scored three consecutive stage wins last year.

Lance Armstrong is a seven time winner of the Tour de France and has survived testicular cancer, a tumor that metastasized to his brain and lungs in 1996. His foundation LIVESTRONG is doing remarkable things around the world to raise cancer awareness and fight cancer. Lance’s reason for returning to professional cycling after his retirement is to fight cancer. Speaking about his return Lance Armstrong recently said “I returned to cycling this year for one reason: to fight for the 28 million people affected by cancer worldwide.”

Jill Clark, Head of Fundraising at the Irish Cancer Society, said "The latest data from the National Cancer Registry of Ireland indicates that there were 27,930 cases of cancer diagnosed in 2007. It is projected that this figure will rise to 43,000 cases by 2020. We encourage as many people as possible to get involved in what is sure to be a unique, empowering and fun event and one that can make a real difference for people living with cancer now and those who may be diagnosed in the future."

Will you join Lance and the Irish Cancer Society to help fight cancer in Ireland and around the World?

Join the Ride4Life on Saturday, 22nd August, do it in support or remembrance of a friend or loved one or do it to enjoy the ride and live every day strong. The closing date for online registration is Thursday, 19th August.

Sign up now for the Ride4Life!

For further information please visit www.ride4life.ie  or CallSave 1850 60 60 60. Ride4Life is kindly sponsored by Bombardier.