Tallaght University Hospital Foundation (TUHF) is turning their annual Cycle into a virtual event this November. With frontline staff still working to try and keep Covid-19 at bay, for safety reasons, they have opted to take a virtual approach. This year’s cycle will be a virtual race between four teams led by four sporting heroes, with people being encouraged to sign up online to their favourite team! People can join the Rugby Team, led by Linda Djougang, Ireland International rugby player and Tallaght Nurse; the Gaelic Football Team, led by multiple All-Ireland winner James McCarthy; the Hurling Team, led by Leitrim and Thomas Davis hurling hero Zak Moradi; and the Football Team, led by Shamrock Rovers’ star Neil Farrugia
Speaking at the launch, Douglas Collins CEO said, “We are so grateful to our ambassadors and delighted to continue with our annual cycle for Tallaght University Hospital, albeit virtually. With a target of €30K, all funds raised from this year’s Virtual Cycle will go towards building a new sensory room, to improve the experience for patients attending Tallaght University Hospital’s Emergency Department with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Sensory Processing Disorders.” “This sensory room will help to create a safe space for patients away from overstimulation, along with helping medical professionals provide the best treatment for our patients with these specific needs,” he continued.
From 5th to 28th November, each team will battle it out in a race to reach as many milestones as possible over the month of November. Whether people are at home on their exercise bikes or out on the roads, it is easy to get involved. Simply sign up at www.tuhf.ie/cycle, pick a team, get on your bike, and start clocking up those Kilometres for Tallaght University Hospital. The individual entry fee is €30, and entry for schools/clubs is €15.
For those unable to take part, people can still support their chosen team by donating kilometres, to help them towards their next milestone and edge them ahead of the competition, all in aid of a worthy cause! The goal for each team is to reach as many milestones as possible by collectively travelling the most kilometres. The main aim will be to cycle the most kilometres, but there will be certain milestones for each team to reach throughout the weekend, to see who is doing best. For example, the first milestone for each camp to reach will be Dublin to Galway which is 200km, and then Galway to the Reykjavik which is 1500km, followed by Reykjavik to Toronto which is 4000km, and so on.
These milestones will be a great way to motivate each team. TUHF believe that the power of numbers will truly help each team reach the milestones and win! There will be a top prize of European cycling holiday in 2022, for the individual who cycles the most kilometres, and a top prize of a hotel voucher for the most fundraised overall. There will also be fantastic smaller prizes for the most fundraised in each camp. To encourage cashless fundraising in accordance with government and HSE recommendations, when signing up via the TUHF website www.tuhf.ie/cycle, iDonate will generate a fundraising page, allowing people to start fundraising immediately.
