Duo to follow part of famous cycle race
by NEIL GREENLEES
 TWO
businessmen are to follow the route of part of the world's best
known cycling event to help finance the battle against Muscular
Dystrophy, the condition which threatens the future of many
young children and teenagers including Hillsborough toddler Sam
McCausland.
Paul McGuire of Lease Options and his friend
and client Wes Kettyle from Cooke and Kettyle Quantity Surveyors
will participate in a gruelling 179 kilometre stretch of the
Tour de France to raise funds for 'pleasefixsam', the charity
set up to raise money for research into the disease by the
little boy's mum and dad Tracy and William.
Like parents all over the world the couple
are desperate to find a cure for the progressive muscle wasting
condition, the victims of which are predominantly boys.
Paul and Wes have been preparing for their
trip for some time and stressed while 'participating in the
event' they are 'not actually competing in it'.
They have chosen a stage in the Pyrenees
during which they will cycle from Pau to Hautacam.
It incorporates two of the Tour's most notorious
climbs - the 23.4 kilometre Tourmalet and the 'finish climbing'
which is just over 1.5 kilometres high.
The two friends are no strangers to fund
raising cycle rides as Paul explained: "A number of years ago we
cycled from Fairhead in Cork to Mizen Head in Donegal in 24
hours to raise money for the Children's Hospital at the Royal,
but the Tour de France has been a longstanding ambition for both
Wes and I," he added.
"We are both delighted that we're able to
combine our ambitions while at the same time help raise the
profile of the 'pleasefixsam' campaign for Struggle Against
Muscular Dystrophy (S.A.M.).
Tracy said when she and William found out Sam
was suffering from the disease they 'couldn't believe the
pitiful lack' of funding available for research.
"So with help from our family, friends and
colleagues, we've set up our own charity in his name," she
added.Tracy stressed there are "no salaries, no overheads and no
costs. "Everyone involved gives their time, skills, products and
services for free so that we can guarantee every single penny
raised will go straight into the hands of the researchers," she
added.
"We're grateful to Paul and Wes and will be
following coverage of the Tour on TV to see how they get on."
neil.greenlees@jpress.co.uk
Ulster Star
11/07/2008
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