To mark the 20th anniversary of NUI Maynooth's Galway Cycle, more than 100 past and present students will cycle 120 miles from Maynooth to Galway to raise money for the Stepping Stones ABA School for autistic children in Kilcloon, Co Meath.
The event is organised by Maynooth Students for Charity and they hope to raise at least €50,000 for the school.
"Each year we choose a different children's charity and this year we've been working with the Stepping Stones school," said Ann Marie Brennan of Maynooth Students For Charity. "Some of the teachers are graduates of Maynooth. They do great work there and the aim is to build a new playground for the children at the school."
The cycle will leave Maynooth at 6.30am on Friday, March 30th and arrive at Eyre Square in Galway city at 5pm that evening. The cyclists will be accompanied by almost 90 people collecting money along the way and there will be official stops in Moate, Co Westmeath and Ballinasloe, Co Galway.
"Each year we try to up the ante. Irish people can be very generous, particularly when it comes to raising money for kids and we feel this a worthy cause," said Ms Brennan.
The group will stay in Galway on Saturday, March 31st, where they will hold bag packs and stationary cycles to raise money, before cycling back to Maynooth on Sunday, April 1st. A number of parents and staff at the Stepping Stones ABA School will also help out during the cycle.
The school was built in January, 2005 with the help of donations and a loan taken out by the parents. It now caters for 30 children aged between three and 13, each of whom needs an individual ABA tutor. Marie Therese Bunbury, one of the parents who helped set up the school, estimates that it costs €12,000 a month to run.
"We were frustrated because it seemed there was nothing being offered to us by the State and decided to set something up," she said. "Without fundraising we wouldn't be where we are today. Initially we had no funding at all, and over the years we've used up all our favours going back to parents, friends and past colleagues for money. When the Galway cycle came up we were thrilled," she said.
"The money will be used to build a state-of-the-art playground. At the moment we have a very sad little playground with a few bits and pieces that get blown about anytime the weather's bad.
"Some of our kids would have physical problems so we need something better for them. Also autistic children can be quite isolated and showing them how to play and that other kids can be fun is important. The playground will be used as a learning tool and we hope to be able to share it with other children in the area," said Ms Bunbury.
Autism is a developmental disorder that affects social interaction and communication. Although there are no official figures available for Ireland, the National Autistic Society in the UK estimates that one in 166 children is affected by autism.
For more information on the Galway Cycle log onto: www.galwaycycle.ie