CALLING FORMER LADIES INTERCOUNTY FOOTBALLERS- ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A WAY TO STAY FIT AND RAISE MONEY FOR CHARITY? IF SO, COME AND CYCLE A STAGE OF THE AN POST RAS TO RAISE MONEY FOR THE IRISH BREAST CANCER RESEARCH INSTITUTE AND MENTAL HEALTH.

The An Post Rás takes place this year from Sunday May 20th-Sunday may 27th.

Last year 'Race the Rás' was born where a group of ex Inter County Footballers + Hurlers cycled the whole route of the An Post Rás or cycled 1 of the stages to raise money for the Irish cancer society and GOAL.

We succeeded in raising over 140,000 euro for the charities.

This year we are raising money for the national breast cancer research institute in Galway and a mental health charity.

The stages are as follows:

Stage 1 Dunboyne-Kilkenny 147Km

Stage 2 Kilkenny-Gort 158Km

Stage 3 Gort-Westport 145Km

Stage 4 Westport-Bundoran 135Km

Stage 5 Bundoran-Buncrana 149Km

Stage 6 Buncrana-Killybegs 134Km

Stage 7 Donegal-Cootehill 161Km

Stage 8 Cootehill-Skerries 139Km

We set off 3 hours ahead of the professional cyclists on the An Post Rás every day and try to beat them to the stage end towns. We have breakdown vans with us and a broom wagon for picking up anybody who suffers a mechanical failure with their bike or body!!!

It is a huge challenge physically as this is not a leisure cycle. Last year we had 1 female triathlete who completed the full 8 stages. This year we would like more ladies taking part in one or more stages especially since we are raising money and awareness about breast cancer.

If you are up for the challenge or would like to fundraise to help us you can contact me at e.murtz@yahoo.com .

All registrations for 'Race the Rás' will be online on our website www.racetheras.com which will be open in a few weeks' time.