The Kerryman, 8 July 2009

A CYCLING-MAD Listowel man is taking part in a I,oookm bike ride for charity in an effort to raise as much money as possible for GOAL'S projects in India, where his cousin is working as the aid agency's country director. Gearoid Pierse will be joined by nine other bike enthusiasts, including his wife Linda, who have all agreed to cycle from Malin Head in Donegal to Mizen Head in County Cork, Ireland's most northerly and southerly points. The group, who began the challenge by cycling from Dublin to Donegal at the weekend, aims to reach Kerry on Friday, July 17, where they plan to stay overnight in Tralee and continue on their journey the following morning.

This will be the 39-year old Pierse's third cycling challenge over the last year and a half, following successful rides around Hong Kong in March/April 2008 and a mammoth 5,000km trek from Istanbul to Listowellast summer.

"After our multi-country bike journey last year, we decided to take things a little easier this summer and enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of our own country," said
Gearoid. "This challenge will also provide anyone, whatever their cycling experience, with the opportunity to join us for all, or part of the journey."

All of Gearoid's challenges so far have been undertaken in support of cousin and fellow
Listowel native, Richard Pierse, who has been Country Director for GOAL on the subcontinent since April 2008. Richard, a qualified chartered accountant, has been working with GOAL since 2004 and had been involved in aid projects in Angola, Pakistan and Honduras before he took over the reins in India. "While we intend to enjoy ourselves, the main point of the challenge is to raise funds for GOAL and to support Richard and what he is doing out in India," added Gearoid. "We are all very proud of him and it is good to give him some moral support every so often, while raising as much as we can financially as well. "We will be covering just over I,oookm in total and we are hoping to raise a euro for every kilometre of the journey. Every cent we raise will make a difference, so we are encouraging people to donate whatever they can."

People who wish to make a contribution towards GOAL'S work in India can contact Gearoid on 086-7228470, or email him on pierse@ireland.com or they can log onto http://www.mycharity.ie/ events/M2M and donate online.