AER Lingus cabin crew worker Andrew Dunne is getting
ready to rev his engine again for this year’s 1,000-kilometre Motorbike Around
Ireland trip to raise money for Down Syndrome Ireland.
For the fifth consecutive year, the Donaghmede local
will be joined by his son Lonan (15) who will act as navigator for the
endurance trek around the country.
The father and son, who live on St Donagh’s Road, hope
to match, if not better, the e10,000 that they raised for the worthy cause last
year.
Andrew and Lonan will join 120 other bikers and their
pillion passengers on the trip that will see them criss-cross the country over
two and a half days.
The event will start from Joe Duffy Motors off the M50
on Saturday, May 5.
“We’ll have no idea as to what route we’ll be taking
until we get to the start line and then the route will be drip fed to us from
check-in point to check-in point,
? Andrew told Northside People.
“Lonan will be my navigator so he’ll be behind me
listening to his iPod no doubt and giving me a tap on the shoulder to let me
know whether to go right or left.
“There are quite a few parents who get involved with
their children. It’s quite a bonding experience. It’s good for me and Lonan to
have that weekend a year when it’s just the two of us on the road.
?
Although he loves the experience and raising money for
a worthy cause such as Down Syndrome Ireland, this year’s motorbike trip may be
his last.
“I’m 55 now and getting a little older and the
12-hour-a-day bike rides are getting a little harder on my body, primarily my backside,
?
he explained.
Andrew and his family are serial fundraisers with
charities not just at home but also abroad benefiting from their blood, sweat
and tears.
The Aer Lingus steward ran the Berlin Marathon and the
Belin French 25-kilometre run in his time based in Germany from 1985 to 1992
with all money raised going towards Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children,
Crumlin.
In the 1990s, Andrew raised money for the Brain
Research Foundation and the Blind Council by participating in both the Great
Wall 200-mile Walk of China and the Amazon.
Completing five marathons in his lifetime is just
another string to his physical and fundraising achievements.
All the money raised from the Motorbike Around Ireland
fundraiser will go towards helping people with Down Syndrome and their
families.
To donate, visit www.downsyndrome.ie