Members of Dublin cycling club The Willow Wheelers are hoping to exceed €1m raised for charity since 1991 when they hold their annual 100 mile race today.
The Blackrock-based club has raised some €850,000 for organisations in Africa and Brazil since the first race was held in 1991 and is hoping to reach the €1m mark with its 18th annual 100 mile cycle today.
The funds have been used to support the building of schools, hospitals, water holes and the purchase of vital medicine for projects in Sierra Leone, The Gambia, Kenya, Ethiopia, Ghana and Brazil.
A spokesman said that over the past 18 years more than 3,000 people have participated in the race, with Tour de France winner Stephen Roche, and pop stars Bob Geldof and Bono among the celebrity supporters of the event.
Keen cyclists taking part in the 11-hour round trip up Kinnegad plan to be back at Blackrock College by 7.30pm tonight.
Additional reporting: PA
