END TO END IRELAND JUNE 5-13 2010.  What makes our ride special?  Julian and Lawrence have learning disabilities and are riding tandem as part of the team of 6, cycling 820 kms in 7 days from the bottom to the top of Ireland in June.  We are raising £65,500 to build and equip a much needed SPECIAL NEEDS ADVENTURE PLAYGROUND for children with mild and severe learning disability such as Cerebral Palsy, Down's Syndrome and Autism.  The playground will be at Norwood's Kennedy Leigh Children & Family Centre in Hendon which supports hundreds of children each week. See www.specialride.co.uk

820 kms ride is a hard enough on road bikes across 3 mountain ranges and a climate  known for its wind and rain.  It is so much harder on a tandem with a rider with learning disability and the effort needed by both front and back rider is huge.

Yes we are asking for alot because we know how important outdoor play is for children with these learning difficulities and the difference it can make to their lives.  It is important that you know that all our expenses have been paid for by ourselves and our web site donated free to us by Stephen Benjamin. So every pound raised goes straight to the playground. 

Unfortunately in the middle of April Charles Barnett had a cycling accident and has had to pull out of the ride with his wife Judith.  We all agreed the ride had to go on and it will be managed and led by Lynne Gilbert a Norwood volunteer for many years and keen cyclist who also started and runs the Norwood Cycle Club.   

To find out more details about the playground and about our ride go to our special web site http://www.specialride.co.uk/ .