For the first time in its 37 years, The Ring of Kerry Charity Cycle 2020 has been cancelled. The committee did not make this decision lightly and the chosen charities were at the fore of the decision, along with the health and safety of all participants and volunteers.
However, The Ring of Kerry Charity Cycle 2021 will go ahead on Saturday, July 3 2021. It is a difficult time for many of the chosen charities and indeed most charities across Ireland, which is why the Charity Cycle remains committed to its charity partners. All the chosen charities have been informed of this year’s cancellation and will remain the chosen charities for the 2021 event.
The Ring of Kerry Charity Cycle will email all registered participants and provide them with a choice of what to do with their current registration. Recognising the difficult circumstances that cyclists, charities and volunteers find themselves in at this challenging time, all registrants will be offered three choices: 1. Defer your registration to the cycle on Saturday, July 3, 2021. 2. Donate your 2020 registration monies to your chosen charity. 3. Refund of your €100 registration fee and associated merchandise / donation.
All registrants must submit their preference through www.ringofkerrycycle.ie on or before Sunday, May 31, 2020 and their preference will be processed before the end of July 2020. Should they choose not to respond, their registration and associated merchandise and donation (if any) will be automatically carried over to the 2021 event.
The main beneficiary charities for 2020 and 2021 are:
• Ard Chúram Day Care Centre, Listowel – A daycare service that operates from Monday to Saturday and caters for older people in a purpose-built centre in Greenville, Listowel.
• Banna Rescue – A voluntary inshore and land rescue unit covering one of the busiest and best beaches in the country.
• Breakthrough Cancer Research – An Irish medical research charity focused on raising vital funds for cancer supports and services.
• Cúnamh Iveragh – A respite home for adults with special needs in South Kerry.
• Down Syndrome Ireland (Kerry branch) – Helping people with Down Syndrome to make their own futures as bright and independent as possible by providing them with education, support and friendship every step of the way.
• St Francis Special School –Providing educational programmes in Beaufort for students with moderate/severe/profound general disabilities.
Over the course of its 37-year history, the Ring of Kerry Charity Cycle has raised almost €17 million for more than 160 charities. In more recent years, over €1 million has been raised per annum, and having to defer this year’s cycle has deeply saddened the committee considering these funds are very much needed at this time.
The Ring of Kerry Charity Cycle Committee looks forward to welcoming all participants to Kerry for the 2021 event and wants to thank all current registrants, volunteers and charities for their ongoing support. Further notifications will be issued in due course as to when registrations will open for 2021.
For more information visit www.ringofkerrycycle.ie or follow The Ring of Kerry Charity Cycle on Facebook or Instagram @RingofKerryCharityCycle or Twitter @ringokerrycycle #ROKCC2021
