Today (Tuesday, 25th June) saw a call out for ‘fresh air’ crusaders and philanthropists across Ireland to join this year’s Tour De Picnic. And for those who find the 80km cycle that bit daunting, Tour De Picnic has added a 10km charity run to the Picnic. Mia Keaveney founder of ‘Thank You Crumlin, Love Mia’, (TDP beneficiary), model Michelle McGrath, along with friends of LauraLynn Children’s Hospice (TDP beneficiary) were at the unveiling of the new multi-sensory garden at LauraLynn which was built as a result of the fundraising efforts from last year’s Tour De Picnic.
Mia Keaveney (12) announced today at the unveiling that she could no longer stand on the side-lines and is excited to be par-taking in this year’s Tour De Picnic. After receiving her new prosthetic leg shortly after Electric Picnic 2012, Give2go donated a new bike to Mia on which she will use for her first outing alongside the 10km runners in the Tour De Picnic.
Whether you are a passionate cyclist, someone who wants a run with a difference, a first timer like Mia or a fund raiser who wants money to go to somewhere it counts, this is for you.
Brian McDermott, co-founder of Tour De Picnic said ‘ We are delighted that Tour De Picnic is now no longer exclusively for those on two wheels, and all aspiring runners out there can join in, in what’s going to be another great Tour De Picnic! We are hoping to break last year’s participation rate of 700 people so are calling on all Picnicers old and young, fit and not so fit, to come join us this year and as always it’s for a great cause’.
Funds raised by participants last year have provided the means to a complete revamp of the multi-sensory garden that can be enjoyed by all the children and their families. The beneficiaries of this year’s Tour de Picnic will be Thank You Crumlin, Love Mia and Laura Lynn House, Irelands Children’s Hospice.
Jane McKenna, founder of LauraLynn Children’s Hospice, said “We want to thank every single person who took part in last year’s Tour De Picnic, looking around here today you can now see the fruits of your fundraising which totalled €54,000 for LauraLynn. We hope everybody going to Electric Picnic 2013 will consider partaking in either the new 10km run or the 80km cycle.”
For both the 80km cycle and the 10km run Tour De Picnic have set minimum fund raising requirement of €380 (including a €50 deposit) but it’s your choice with how far you can take it! And for those of you who have already purchased their Electric Picnic ticket need not panic as they can still partake for the reduced fundraising amount of €230. Tour De Picnic is officially open for anyone to register and secure your spot to be a part of what is fast becoming a fantastic movement.
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Inaugural TDP 10km Run
v Fundraising requirement: Fundraise €380 (including €50 deposit)
v Already a ticket holder: Fundraise €230*
Participants in the 10km run will be bussed from the Tour De Picnic starting point in Tallaght Stadium to Athy, Co. Kildare. Once in Athy they will run to the gates of Stradbally escorted by a fleet of Harley Davidsons!
In return for your fundraising efforts you will get…
· A full weekend camping pass to the Electric Picnic festival
· Bus from Dublin to Athy
· Full Tour De Picnic running kit
· Food, drinks and goodies at finish area
· Baggage transfer to the festival
· Bus ticket home
10km itinerary Friday, 30th August 2013
· 8am | Check in and baggage drop in Tallaght Stadium, Tallaght Dublin (your baggage & tent will be transported to the festival)
· 10am | Bus departs from Dublin with runners on board
· 11am | Bus arrives in Athy, Co. Kildare.
· 11:30am | The 10km run to Stradbally commences!
· Arrival at EP is dependent on pace and ability. Runners expected to cross the finish line any time after 1pm.
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Tour De Picnic 80km Cycle
v Fundraising requirement: €380 (including €50 deposit)
v NEW ‘Student Special’: €290 (including €50 deposit)
v Already a ticket holder: Just fundraise €230*
The route has changed slightly since last year and the first rest stop is going to be a fruity affair with a picnic before the Picnic in the gardens of the beautiful Country Kitchen Show rooms at Ballymore Eustace.
Tour De Picnic guides are on hand to help every step of the way. They are backed up with support vehicles equipped with bicycle mechanics and first aid personnel.
For all students out there, Tour De Picnic have teamed up with CollegeTimes.ie to rally the students of Ireland to come out in force for this year’s cycle and have created a very special ‘Student Special’. All students wishing to partake have to raise €290 (including an initial deposit of €50).
In return for your fundraising efforts you will get…
· A full weekend camping pass to the Electric Picnic festival
· Fully supported 1st class cycling experience
· Full Tour De Picnic cycling kit
· Food, drinks and goodies at rest stops and finish area
· Baggage transfer to the festival
· Bus ticket home
· Bike transfer back to Dublin
Cycle Itinerary Friday, 30th August 2013
· 8am | Check in and Baggage Drop in Tallaght Stadium, Tallaght, Dublin (Note: Upon arrival TDP will tag and check in your baggage. Your baggage and tent are transported to EP).
· Cycle Departs straight away
· Rest stop 1 | Ballymore Eustace, Co.Kildare - Fruit and snacks will be provided
· Rest stop 2 | Athy, Co Kildare - Lunch and tunes at the GAA club
· Arrival at EP is expected any time after 1pm… depending on pace and ability!
Step 1 … Cyclists depart Dublin for Stradbally!
When all have arrived in Tallaght Stadium the atmosphere builds and the countdown will commence. Departing in groups of the same ability we roll out two by two.
Tour de Picnic takes the quiet back roads to Stradbally. Starting in Tallaght Stadium we roll out the N81 to Blessington. We ascend into Wicklow leaving the backdrop of the city over our shoulders passing the beautiful Polaphuca lake and then move onto narrow country roads, which are carefully sign posted so nobody will get lost en route.
Every turn on the route is sign posted and there are markers every 10km for your convenience. Our safety marshals are dotted along the route to make other road users aware and to cheer you on.
Step 2 … Rest Stop, Ballymore Eustace at the Country Kitchens Show rooms | 25.7km
This intimate section of the cycle winds around the scenic stud farms and will bring you to the first rest stop at the Country Kitchens Show rooms in the leafy village of Ballymore Eustace. Here all cyclists will be treated to a fruit party provided by The Fruit People . The rest areas are fully equipped with free wi-fi, toilets, snacks, water and music.
Step 3 … Lunch Stop, Athy GAA grounds | 61km
We will then hit the open road cutting through the midlands on to Athy. When we arrive into Athy town we will make our way to Athy GAA field where more substantial snacks and sandwiches will be available. to all before taking off on the last 13km to Electric Picnic.
Step 4 … Tour de Picnic Welcome Area & Recovery Zone | 74.3km
The last slice of the cycle is flat farmland which is home to the National Ploughing Championships but to the Tour De Picnic regulars has become known as the ‘lap of honour’. It consists of a final approach across the tiniest of lanes sneaking around the back of the festival site up the Cork Road. *** location of Welcome Area ***
It’s when you turn through the gate and under the gantry that you realise that you have arrived in paradise and a weekend of wonder and amazement awaits after a simple adventure by bicycle. Sitting at 80m (266ft) Stradbally is pretty much on par with Kilcullen.
Welcome staff will be waiting with a smile and will carefully rack your bike whilst you take in your achievement.
We will also load up your bike and bring it back to the origin where it will await you on the rack.
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At the Welcome Area, Tour De Picnic’s massage team will be offering a fully body rub down to help all participants, cyclists and runners, body adjust for the wonderful weekend ahead. There will be ice baths and fresh towels that will leave you energised and ready to eat.
Your bags are waiting for collection and you will be presented with your full weekend pass to Electric Picnic, a medal and a bus ticket home.
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Whether running or cycling to this year’s Electric Picnic, Tour De Picnic want to remind all taking part that this is a non –competitive challenge which rewards come not only in the form of a 3 day weekend pass to what is arguably Irelands best festival but also raising much needed funds for two very worthy charities.
Since Tour de Picnic’s 5 years ago, they have raised over €500,000 for children’s charities. They would like to thank everyone who participated and helped raise funds over the past 4 years and hope that this year will surpass all previous efforts.
TOUR DE PICNIC INFORMATION
About Tour de Picnic
Tour de Picnic is the world’s first and original festival bike ride. Founders of TDP, Give2go exists to support cyclists and fund raisers so no matter what you are doing for Tour de Picnic they are on hand every step of the way. They have built a fantastic online fund raising facility so that you can raise as much money as possible for our charity beneficiaries’ projects.
Upon signing up you will get your own give2go profile. Here you can manage your challenge. The profile has a live display of your fund raising progress and all costs are available in a clear and transparent manner.
There is an instant donation facility that will update every time a donation is made. There are also full social networking facilities for you to communicate with fellow participants and fund raiser supporters.
You can share photo’s, chat, promote your own page, plan training and much more.
If you have any difficulties, whether in fundraising or training Give2go experts are on hand to assist. You can contact them by email on : support@give2go.ie or call +3531 497 9337.
About the charities
LauraLynn Children’s Hospice |
It is about putting ‘Life into a child’s day, not days into a child’s life’
LauraLynn provides end of life care to sick children in a very unique, special setting in Dublin. Funds raised from Tour de Picnic have funded a complete revamp of the multi-sensory garden that can be enjoyed by all the children and their families.
LauraLynn is Ireland’s first ever Children’s Hospice. Established by Jane McKenna in September 2011 on the grounds of the Children’s Sunshine Home in Leopardstown, LauraLynn are proud that they have helped over 104 families since that time.
It is a warm supportive environment for the whole family to relax and spend precious time with their children, including & especially siblings. For parents, it gives that much needed break – often as simple as a decent night’s sleep and support is offered for healthy siblings, who often are very much left out when a sick child needs 24 hour care. Most importantly it is a special place where a child can spend their final days in comfort and peace with their family.
Tragically there are an estimated 1,400 children living in Ireland with life limiting conditions & over 400 children die every year. There is only one hospice for children in Ireland, despite there being 45 in the UK. As they have no state funding they rely on the continued support from different communities and organisations like Tour De Picnic.
Thank You Crumlin, Love Mia
'Thank You Crumlin, Love Mia’ is an initiative founded by Mia Keaveney and her family with an aim to help raise much-needed funds for Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin.
Mia Keaveney is a lifelong patient of Crumlin Hospital, who at the age of 12 has taken on a massive challenge to raise funds for a new out-patients unit.
Crumlin hospital is a place which, over the past 10 years, has been a home away from home for Mia who has undergone numerous operations and treatments there.
Mia was born in China and, as a baby had an accident that left her badly burned. In 2002, Mia came to live with her Irish family in Dublin; it was at this stage that Mia began treatment in Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin.
The setting up of the charity to raise funds to upgrade and expand the number of consultation rooms in the busy orthopaedic and ophthalmic clinics is, for Mia, her way of showing her appreciation and thanks to the hospital and its dedicated staff.
By supporting Mia’s, you’re supporting Ireland’s sickest children and their families. Log onto: www.thankyoucrumlin.com for further details.
