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On your bike for Donegal MS
sufferers
16.06.08
DONEGAL is home to 5%
or 300 of the country's MS sufferers, according to a
local man who is helping to raise money for MS
Ireland.
Martin Bonner, marketing manager with the Inishowen
Gateway Hotel in Buncrana, has announced details of
this year's Tour of Inishowen 150K Cycle.
"The Donegal Branch of MS Ireland appealed to me
because my own family was touched by the disease and
in the aftermath of it, the support system offered
was of great comfort. Also I feel that the profile
of the disease needs to be raised in Donegal as we
do have almost 5% of the country’s suffers right
here," said Mr. Bonner. |
He cited statistics
showing that around 7000 people live with MS in
Ireland today, with around 300 of them registered in
Donegal. He said the North West of Ireland has the
highest MS rate in Europe.
The Donegal branch of MS Ireland is made up of
voluntary members, some with MS themselves or some
who have family members suffering from the
condition. The group meets monthly to discuss ways
to |
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improve sufferers'
lives.
On Sunday July 20, cyclists from the North Pole
Cycling Club will leave from the Inishowen Gateway
Hotel and follow a 150K route around the peninsula
and back to Buncrana. The event follows on from the
hugely successful tour undertaken last year by the
same group. Helpers from the Donegal Branch of MS
Ireland will be on hand at various points around the
peninsula throughout the day to collect donations.
The hotel is sponsoring the cycle itself and all
proceeds raised will be split between the North Pole
Cycling Club's development fund and the Donegal
Branch of MS Ireland. Anyone wishing to take part in
the cycle can contact Karl Fullerton on 086 278 8497
to enquire about registration. Meanwhile, anyone who
wants to contact the Donegal Branch of MS Ireland
can do so by calling Veronica Gillen on 087 245
9445. |
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