The Team Youghal cycling team has launched its planned "Race Across America Cycle" in the County Cork town, famous as the setting for the classic 1950s Gregory Peck movie "Moby Dick."Centre on Saturday last.
The team will compete in what is considered the world's toughest cycle race, a 3,005 mile across America epic from the Pacific coast at Oceanside, California to the Atlantic coastal city of Annapolis, Maryland.
This will be the 30th year of the race and Team Youghal will make history by being the first ever Irish team in the eight person team category.
Crossing 12 states and climbing over 170,000 feet during its duration, the race will start on June 18. Team Youghal are planning to finish on June 26 in Annapolis.
The highest point of the race is Wolf Creek Pass, high up in the Rockies at almost 11,000 feet and the lowest point is 170 feet below sea level.
"This is a non-stop race across the American Continent with racers competing 24 hours a day from start to finish, said a release on behalf of the Irish cyclists.
Mayor of Youghal, Mary Linehan-Foley, launched the team on its way.
"I'm proud that a team from Youghal will be the first Irish participant in this race. This is a great opportunity to put Ireland and indeed Youghal on the world map which will benefit tourism numbers in these very tough economic times," she said.
Team Leader, Ger Flanagan, outlined the route and gave a detailed plan of what was involved in getting the team across a continent.
"I would like to thank every member of Team Youghal for their efforts to date and I'm looking forward to the challenge ahead," Flanagan said.
The team is taking part in the race in part to raise money and awareness for the Emer Casey Foundation. Emer, who was from Youghal, was diagnosed with ovarian/uterine cancer in February 2006. She was just 27 years of age. She died on June 10, 2006, four days after her 28th birthday.
Her parents Juliette and Brendan, and sisters Julie, Annelee, Susan and Ruth, set up the foundation in her honor. The Emer Casey Foundation has to date raised more than €500,000 for the foundation's research into ovarian and uterine cancer. It began with a road race and walk in Youghal, but it now organizes events in London, Melbourne and New York.
One such event is planned for the Irish Consulate in New York at on Tuesday, June 28. A 5km run will be held in Central Park on June 29 and there will also be events in San Diego prior to the cycle race start.
Team Youghal is being backed in its fundraising efforts by the Irish US Council, Enterprise Ireland's U.S., The American Chamber of Commerce, The Trinity Foundation, The Discovery Consortium, Matheson Ormsby Prentice Solicitors,Emer's former employers, and The Cork Association in New York.
Readers can follow Team Youghal's progress by joining its Facebook page at www.teamyoughal.com where there will be hourly updates during the race. More information on the Emer Casey Foundation is available at www.emercaseyfoundation.com.
