The 30 cyclists from Blazing Saddles, who will undertake a 3,000-mile journey across the US in the autumn in aid of the National Council for the Blind, gathered with a host of supporters and family in the US ambassador's residence in the Phoenix Park last week when ambassador Mike Sullivan and his wife Jane hosted their fundraising launch. Chairman of Blazing Saddles, Fergus O'Hagan SC, says the hardy 30 have to raise £10,000 each to participate and it is expected that a total of £350,000, including extra donations, will go to the council.
Ambassador Sullivan welcomed Tracy Piggott, who will participate, team leader Sean Kelly, RTE's Liam Millar and property developer Johnny Ronan. The last two have cycled with the group in the past. He impressed upon them that a journey from San Diego, California over the Rockies to Charleston South Carolina in 29 days in October was no easy task.
Also there was Bobby McDonagh, Ireland's new ambassador to Kuala Lumpur who welcomes over 175 members of Blazing Saddles to Malaysia in June.