A NORTHSIDE man is revving up for another biking adventure to raise funds for charity.
Andrew Dunne, from Donaghmede, is preparing his engine again for this year’s 1,000-kilometre Motorbike Around Ireland trip to raise money for Down Syndrome Ireland. It will take place on the May Bank Holiday, Saturday to Monday, May 3-5.
Andrew, a senior cabin crewmember with Aer Lingus, said it will be his eighth consecutive time to participate in the event since he started back in 2007.
“In past years my 17-year-old son, Lonan Dunne, joined me,
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“However, I will be riding solo this year due to Lonan’s school commitments. He attends Mount Temple Comprehensive School on the Malahide Road.
“This year there will be approximately 150 bikers plus pillion passengers taking part, along with a crew of mechanics, repair vans, etc., to look after us on our journey. The route will not be disclosed to the participants until the day of the event.
“While I lived in Berlin, 1985-1992, I did the Berlin Marathon and the Berlin French 25km run and collected funds for Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin.
“I met one of our great athletes, Eamonn Coghlan when I was at the hospital dropping off the money that I and other Irish lads had raised; it was a great honour.
“Also, I lived in Boston from 1992-1999 and during that time I raised money for the Brain Research Foundation and the Blind Council participating in both the Great Wall of China and their Amazon, Brazil trips.
“My wife and family raised funds for Paraguayan Indians through a friend of ours who is a doctor of tropical medicine based in Ireland and I visited them with him during the trip to Paraguay.
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“After leaving Ireland in 1985 to travel with my wife, Linda, we eventually returned to Ireland in 1999 with our son-in-tow and live in Donaghmede.
“We celebrated being 15 years home at the end of March.
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All funds raised go to Down Syndrome Ireland. If anyone wants to donate, visit www.downsyndrome.ie or visit Andrew’s charity website page, www.mycharity.ie/event/andrew__dunnes_event.