Cycle around Lough Derg 12th June

MDI

Lough Derg Cycle for Muscular Dystrophy Ireland
Muscular Dystrophy Ireland (MDI)
Lough Derg Charity Cycle
Through the beautiful Shannon region
On Saturday the 12th June 2010

Muscular Dystrophy Ireland (MDI) is seeking support this year for the 3rd Annual Charity Cycle. The cycle will bring you through the beautiful Shannon region in an 80 mile round trip route. The starting point will be the Two Mile Gate at 10am (3 miles outside of Killaloe, Co Clare) and the cycle will finish here also.

It is a great day out, with fun and laughs along the way. You can sign up individually or in a group as your sure to meet new people along your journey.

The cost involved to take part is just €75 all going to MDI.
We will provide you with enough fuel on the day: refreshments, fresh sandwiches, fruit and goodies to keep you going at a steady pace for the duration.

Also provided on the day is a back up bus, if you feel the need to take a break and catch up with the group at the next pit stop!.

To sign up you either pay a registration of €75 or alternatively take a sponsorship card to raise the money.

All money raised from the event is going to fund the respite support services provided to 549 individuals and familes living with MD and medical reseach


For further information, sponsorship card and t-shirt please contact:
Amy Bramley Fundraising & PR Coordinator
Tel: 01 872 1501 Mobile: 086 818 5352 email amy@mdi.ie

Jumpy

Sounds good, but to be fair, the Sean Kelly and Stephen Roche Tour de Cure cycles have a lot better take up and are €45. This includes a welcome pack and a cycling jersey. The Tour de Cure had an awesome bike prize for anyone who raised 150 or more.

€75 for a charity cycle entry fee is crazy and your takeup will be minimal due to this.

Jumpy

Actually, reading back on your posts, you were advised of this last year by multiple people in the cycling forum for the 2009 cycle and have made no changes. If you are really interested in raising money for the event I would suggest more organisation, talk to the organisers of other successful charity cycles and adjust accordingly.
People bring other people to charity cycles, prices of this magnitude turns them away.

MDI

MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY IRELAND CYCLE AROUND LOUGH DERG FOR RESPITE SUPPORT SERVICES IN CLARE

Muscular Dystrophy Ireland (MDI) is hosting the third cycle challenge around Lough Derg which will take participants through the beautiful Shannon region. The route is approximately 70 miles long with food and refreshment supplied throughout the day. All levels of fitness are catered for and all are welcome to take part, have fun and raise money for MDI. To date the cycle has raised over €8,000 for respite support services.

This years cycle will take place on Saturday the 12th of June commencing at 10.30am at Two Mile Gate, Killaloe with registration open from 10am. According to Joe Mooney Chief Executive Officer, Muscular Dystrophy Ireland “ this is a fun cycle or can be a practice run for the more advanced cyclist along with raising much needed funds for MDI. There will be plenty of pit stops along the route for everyone to regroup and refresh”.

Mooney added that “we are seeking as much support from the public to take part and the money raised will be vital for the provision of the respite support services provided to individuals and families living with muscular dystrophy in Clare”.

Muscular Dystrophy Ireland (MDI) is a support organisation for individuals with muscular dystrophy and their families. It was founded in 1972 by a group of parents from the west of Ireland whose children had the condition muscular dystrophy. Muscular dystrophy is a collective name for a range of neuromuscular disorders, characterised by the progressive weakening of the muscles. The range of disorders affects men and women, adults and children.

Proceeds from the cycle will be used towards the provision of the Respite Support Services the charity provides to 554 members. It is essential that those affected by muscular dystrophy, their carers and family members have adequate respite on a regular and frequent basis in order to support and maintain the physical and emotional health of all concerned. Respite is a means of giving carers a physical break from what is continuous and demanding work. Without this type of support, enormous strain both physical and emotional is experienced by carers. Weekend breaks, respite in the home, and youth and adult summer camps are offered to members and their families. Regular and secure funding for this respite service is essential, to enable members and families to have a good quality of living.

To register you can either pay a registration fee of €75 or alternatively take a sponsorship card to raise money for MDI.

Please contact Amy at 086 818 5352 or email amy@mdi.ie for further information and your FREE T-SHIRT

Jumpy

Ok, no direct response to my posts.

To compare, the Tour de Cure had 1200 cyclists show up mainly from word of mouth paying 45 euro each.

The Sean Kelly had about 3500 show up (to be fair, this cycle is a well advertised event)

If you halved your prices, put up advertising, had a website with the route/training plans and added a shorter route for families you would be guaranteed a better turnout. Plus if its is well organised, you will get those same cyclists back next year plus more due to word of mouth.

Your 8000 could be tripled in one single cycle.

Jumpy

You also should put it up in the Cycling Events wiki on boards.

http://wiki.boards.ie/wiki/Events-Cycling

Jumpy

Tour de Cure page for an example. http://www.stephenrochetourdecure.com/index.php

MDI

Thank you Jumpy for your information.
Muscular Dystrophy Ireland is sorry to hear that €30 is the cause for so little interest and we appreciate your comments.

Jumpy

A lot of people were complaining that the Tour de Cure was too expensive even at 45.
Its not just the cost either, you need an informational site. Most charity cycles organise with the council beforehand as well to identify any risks to the cyclists (blind corners, potholes etc) Plus most I have been to have Garda assistance at the start.
Once it is viewed as a well organised event people will go year after year.

It would probably be worth moving this thread to Cycling as you would get far more details from the other posters there.

billy the squid

Moved from Limerick City.

be sure to read the charter for the cycling forum before posting as it may have different rules to those in Limerick City.

anoble66

would of been tempted as this is on my doorstep, but as others have commented, 75e is too steep. I realise this is for charity but your not going to get many attending at that price. If you dropped your price to 30-40e entry you would get many many more people willing to do this.

irishmotorist

@MDI - it's obviously a very worthwhile cause, but it seems that you are disregarding the participants value on an extra €30.

Personally, I attend several sportives a year and where there is no entry fee and it's just a charity contribution, I'll usually sponsor myself ~€50 to cover my food costs on the day, other likely organisational costs and make sure the charity gets something. I'll usually choose 1 event per year to ask people for contributions. I can't go to my family and work colleagues every few weeks over the summer and asking them to stump up some money for me. Also, factor in that I have to stay somewhere for the event - 1 or 2 nights which also doesn't come free.

Also, it's the day before the Wicklow 200 which is, I would imagine, one of the most popular sportives among cyclists in the country. I'm sure it's too late for this year, and I know there are a lot of other sportives on other weekends, but a different date might also help get a better response.

If it was a week or two later, and a cheaper entrance fee, I do think you'd get a much higher uptake, which is what we'd all want at the end of the day.