Fundraising Events and Activities
Parachute Jump
All year round
Face your fears and do a 10,000 ft. parachute jump to raise money for NCBI. Phone 1850 940 222.
Trek Cuba 2011
26th November - 5th December
NCBI’s Trek Cuba challenge is now only around the corner. Starting in the vibrant capital of Havana, our group of trekkers will take in the beautiful countryside that Cuba has to offer, including coffee and fruit plantations. The challenge itself will be tough going but it will no doubt be well worth the effort. Our trekkers will also visit the city of Santa Clara, famed for the final battle of the Cuban Revolution, the Sierra del Escambray and finally the beautiful city of Trinidad. NCBI would like to wish the very best of luck to everyone taking part.
Tree of Light – Dublin Airport & Grafton Street
Now until end of December
Help support our Tree of Light Campaign in 2011 and sponsor a bulb on our Christmas Trees at Dublin Airport or Grafton Street, Dublin. The NCBI Tree of Light at Dublin Airport has become an integral part of the Airport’s Festival of Light since it first appeared in 1997. The 50-foot tree, with its 2,000 lights, represents a beacon of light and hope for more than one million people who pass through the airport at Christmas time each year. Since 2009, a second Tree of Light has been located at the bottom of Grafton Street (the Trinity College end). Please call our fundraising department today if you would like to sponsor a bulb on one of these trees. This item has a copy of the main front cover picture of the NCBI Tree of Light in Grafton Street, Dublin with the statue of Molly Malone in the foreground.
NCBI Christmas Cards
Our range of Christmas Cards is now available in our shop and online. Packs of 10 cost €7. We also have a range of beautiful tactile cards available this year at a cost of €1 each. Check out our online shop at www.ncbi.ie/newshop for the full range.
Austria Challenge - August
Congratulations to all 29 participants who took part in this year’s Austrian cycle and trek challenge on behalf of NCBI. Based in the town of Westendorf, participants had the opportunity of going on either a guided cycle or hike each day, taking in routes high within the Tyrolean Alps. The trip itself was centered around the World Cycling Masters Championships in St. Johann in Tirol, where members of the cycling group were given the chance to take part in an official 20km time trial, the first of its kind in the Blazing Saddle’s 20-year history. High temperatures, which often exceeded 35 degrees in the shade, failed to deter any of the cyclists and walkers. Well done to the entire group for taking part and helping to raise over €40,000 for NCBI. This item has a picture of a group of cyclists and walkers outside a typical Austrian building, the caption reads: The group of Cyclists & Trekkers who travelled to Austria for NCBI in August.
Trip to Tipp - August
The 16th annual Trip to Tipp took place on the weekend of 7th and 8th August with more than 400 Blazing Saddles taking to the road once again to support the work of NCBI. The Saturday cycle incorporated a 70km route, while the Sunday programme gave cyclists the option of choosing from one of four different cycle distances: 160km, 100km, 60km or 20km. A big thank you to Billy and Katriona Shanahan for their tremendous effort in organising this hugely popular event, which successfully raised over €10,000 for NCBI. Many thanks also to Eamon Duffy for taking the time to support all the riders throughout the event. This item has a picture which shows a group of cyclists in action of a road. The caption reads: Photo Top RIGHT: Cyclists take to the road at this years Trip to Tipp in aid of NCBI.
4 City Cycle Challenge - September
Congratulations to all the cyclists who made their way across four of Ireland’s big cities, namely Dublin, Galway, Limerick and Cork, covering a total distance of approximately 400km in four days to raise funds for NCBI. Leaving the official starting point of the Papal Cross in the Phoenix Cross at 12pm on Wednesday 7th September, 50 cyclists, including four tandems, made their way to Tullamore before continuing on to Galway, Limerick and eventually Cork over four days. Having reached their destination of Cork city on Saturday evening, the entire group of cyclists was greeted by radio presenter Gareth O’Callaghan with a special live broadcast on 4FM. Well done to everyone who took part and who helped raise over €30,000 for NCBI. A special thanks to our fantastic support team, without whom this event would not have been possible. This article is continued in a box pane on page 24. On this page it has a photo of a tandem team. The caption reads: L-R: Sister Bríd Smith (stoker) and Chris Ryan from NCBI (pilot) pictured on the road to Cork. What a tandem!
The team consisted of Fintan Keating & Michael Devereux (motorbike marshals), Francis Doyle & Michael Barnett (support vans), Paul Cummins (bike mechanic) and Gráinne Byrne who helped to make the event run smoothly from start to finish. We’re also very grateful to Hannah Byrne and Alan Geoghegan for all their time and expertise. There are two pictures in this panel The caption for the first reads: Above: Radio Presenter Gareth O’Callaghan interviewing Mark Kehoe (centre) and Paddy Byrne (right) from NCBI at the Clarion Hotel in Cork shortly after crossing the finish line. The second picture shows two people in cycling gear. The caption reads” Katriona and Billy Shanahan at the start of the Four City Cycle.
To take part in any of these events please contact our fundraising team on 1850 33 43 53 or email fundraising@ncbi.ie.
New Director of Special Fundraising Events
NCBI is delighted to announce the appointment of Grainne Barnett as their new director of special fundraising events. Grainne will work on new and challenging projects.
Grainne has a background in establishing and organising some of the largest public/trade exhibitions in Ireland from fashion, to food in the RDS. She travelled extensively enticing exhibitors and visitors to come to Ireland to participate in or attend these exhibitions. While in the exhibition industry she also worked as a volunteer in the’ not for profit’ sector.
Grainne then went to work for ARC Cancer Support Centre as their Director of Fundraising to set up and establish a new fundraising department there. She left recently to take up her new role in NCBI and looks forward to making a difference to the lives of people who are vision impaired or blind.
She will use her vast knowledge of fundraising and her experience to further enhance existing strategies in NCBI. She also firmly believes after working 20 years for charities that without the involvement of our communities and in particular our volunteers, most charities could not exist. Grainne is a sports lover and a swimming coach, cycle coach and mountain guide. This item is accompanied by a head and shoulders picture of Grainne Barnett.