North Pole Cycling Club is proud to be associated with Inishowen Gateway Hotel who are major sponsors of The Tour Of Inishowen.
Details of the hotel can be found at www.inishowengateway.com.

Martin Bonner, Inishowen Gateway Hotel issued the following press release on 4th June 2008.

'The Inishowen Gateway Hotel in Buncrana have teamed up with the Tour of Inishowen 150Km Cycle and the Donegal Branch of M.S Ireland to help raise money for these two local causes. Martin Bonner of the Inishowen Gateway Hotel says that as a family owned hotel the Gateway has always been eager to help any local initiative and when the Tour of Inishowen committee approached me about funding the cycle I thought it would be a good opportunity to help a local community cause and maybe raise some money for a charity. The Donegal Branch of M.S Ireland appealed to me because my own family was touched by the disease and in the aftermath of it the support system offered was of great comfort. Also I feel that the profile of the disease needs to be raised in Donegal as we do have almost 5% of the country’s suffers right here.Multiple Sclerosis is a disease of the brain and the central nervous system. It interferes with the brain’s ability to control such functions as seeing, walking, talking etc. It is the most common neurological disorder amongst young people, although it can strike at any age. It is not a mental illness nor contagious and is not preventable or curable. It can however be managed with different treatments. Many people living with M.S have the ability to lead a perfectly normal life but as there is a huge lack of neurologists working in Ireland today suffers have to travel to Dublin for treatment.The mission statement of the M.S Society is “to enable and empower those affected by M.S to live the life of their choice to their fullest potential”There are approximately 7000 people living with M.S in Ireland today, with around 300 of them registered in Co Donegal. The North West of Ireland actually has the highest M.S rate in Europe. The Donegal Branch’s committee is made up of voluntary members, some with M.S themselves and some who have family members suffering from M.S. The group meets monthly to discuss ways to improve the lives of those people living with M.S and it is important to note that all monies raised in Co Donegal will be spent in Co Donegal so this race is truly benefiting the local community.The branch committee also organise social functions, summer outings, Christmas parties etc for people affected. The committee provide free transportation for these functions and the branch also helps with the expenses of respite services, physiotherapy, home help and other transportation costs. A lot of the members attend yearly national conferences which cost approximately €7000. Everyone living with M.S are given financial assistance towards winter expenses in the home. There is a welfare committee who manage the funds in a professional and confidential manner.The chairperson of the Donegal Branch of M.S Ireland is Muriel Perry, she became involved when her daughter Ruth was diagnosed with the disease on her 22nd birthday. After this Muriel became Ruth’s primary care giver. Muriel says that being part of the society meant that the support she got from speaking to other families living with the same situation helped her through and feels that the Tour of Inishowen 150k cycle is a fantastic opportunity to raise awareness and funds for Multiple Sclerosis suffers in the county. Anyone wishing to contact the Donegal Branch of M.S Ireland can do so by calling Veronica Gillen on 087 245 9445.On Sunday July 20th participants of the cycle tour will leave the Inishowen Gateway in Buncrana and follow a 150km route around the Inishowen Peninsula back to Buncrana. This follows on from the hugely successful tour undertaken last year by the same group. Helpers from the Donegal Branch of M.S Ireland will be on hand on the day at various points around the peninsula to collect donations. The Inishowen Gateway is sponsoring the cycle itself and all proceeds raised on the day will be split between the Cycle Club’s development fund and the Donegal Branch of M.S Ireland. Anyone wishing to take part in the cycle can contact Carl Fullerton on 086 278 8497 to enquire about registration.

Picture Left to right Muriel Perry, chairperson, Donegal Branch MS Ireland, Roberta McBeth, Veronica Gillen, secretary,Donegal Branch MS Ireland, North Pole Cycling Club Chairman, Eddie Donaghey, Martin Bonner, Marketing Manager Inishowen Gateway Hotel and Carl Fullerton, secretary North Pole Cycling Club.