Free passes for Electric Picnic cyclists

Festival goers to the Electric Picnic have been invited to cycle there from Dublin in exchange for a free ticket.

A total of 1,000 free tickets have been allocated to cyclists who will leave from Terenure College at 10am on the opening morning of the festival on Friday, September 3rd.

The entourage will have a Garda escort as they travel via the Tallaght bypass, Blessington, Kilcullen, Athy and then on to Stradbally, a distance of 90 kilometres. The cycle should take around five hours with a number of stops for refreshments along the way.

Each cyclist will have to raise €500 for the Mount Temple Street Children's University Hospital neurosurgery appeal to assist patients suffering from diseases or injuries of the brain or spine and it is hoped to raise at least €350,000 for charity.

The campaign was endorsed by the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural. Resources. Eamon Ryan who attended the launch yesterday afternoon and is contemplating taking part in the cycle if time permits.

The cycle is being organised by 2Wheels, a cycle shop in Sandymount, which specialises in organising large charity cycles.

2Wheels owner Mark Rudden said they have been inundated with interest since it went up on Facebook yesterday afternoon and he was confident that they will get the 1,000 cyclists.

He said the prospects of getting a free ticket while raising money for charity was a "win-win" for all concerned.

Further details can be found on the Electric Picnic website at www.electricpicnic.ie.