STony Griffin Launches His Epic 7,000 Kilometre Cross-Canada Journey
By CATHOLINE BUTLER
VANCOUVER - Friends and supporters of Irish hurling champion Tony Griffin came together for a brilliant night at the Blarney Stone Pub in Gastown on May 1.
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TONY GRIFFIN is shown above with his late father Jerome who passed away from cancer in 2005.
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RONAN DEANE, Graham Hancock (ISSC president), Tony Griffin, Eddie Macken, and Marcus Treacy (ISSC vice president). (FRONT ROW) Robert Book, Matt Bethune with Ben Whidden.
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TONY GRIFFIN (back row second from left), with members of Killarney and Eddie Emerman (owner of the Blarney Stone, front row second from right).
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JIMMY AND MAUREEN Speiron billeted Tony Griffin and his team when they were in Vancouver. Tony (centre) with Jimmy and Maureen at the Blarney Stone fundraiser.
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TONY GRIFFIN launched his 7,000 kilometre cross-Canada cycle from Stanley Park in Vancouver on May 2. He is shown above (centre) with RCMP Constable Quasie and members of his road crew: Ben Whidden, Rosalee McDonald, and Matt Bethune.
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[PHOTO: Shane O'Ruairc]
TONY GRIFFIN and his crew upon arrival in Hope, B.C. on the first leg of their trip. He was given a warm welcome and escorted into town with an RCMP motorcade. They were fed at Maude Bredofs house, followed by a well-deserved party afterwards at the Gold Rush pub.
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They were there to attend a fundraiser and to wish Tony a bon voyage as he prepared to launch his epic 7,000 kilometre "Ride for the Cure" the following morning.
Tony's cycling journey will take him across Canada from Vancouver to Halifax and then from Dublin to Ennis in Ireland.
His goal is to raise EU150,000 with funds to benefit the Lance Armstrong Foundation, the Irish Cancer Society and Ovarian Cancer Canada.
It was the untimely passing of his father Jerome - who died of lung cancer in 2005 as a result of exposure to asbestos in the construction industry - that led to Tony's ambitious undertaking.
As a result of his father's death, Tony decided to put his illustrious career as a Clare senior hurler and 2006 GAA All Star on hold to take on this massive undertaking to "Ride for the Cure."
The Vancouver Irish Sporting and Social Club (ISSC) organized the event at the Blarney Stone and it was a magic night where there were many stars.
Tony Griffin of course was the brightest star with his Irish charm and courage. Everyone wanted to meet and wish him best of Irish luck and God speed on his journey.
Another star that evening was Eddie Macken, the well-known Irish equestrian show jumper, who was a member of the famed Irish team that won the Aga Khan Cup three years in a row (1977 to 1979).
Along with numerous other medals, Macken has won many major Grand Prix victories worldwide and held the listing as the world's number one show jumper from 1976 to 1978. He now works out of New Kells farm in Langley, British Columbia.
The other stars were the men and women of the ISSC who worked so hard getting the word out and contacting people in the community to make them aware of the fundraiser.
The fabulous Killarney Showband gave of their valuable time as well and entertained for the evening. They just put the icing on the cake. Even Tony Griffin was up on the dance floor....the night before the launch of his cross-Canada cycle.
Dublin-born, Maureen and Jimmy Speiron billited Tony Griffin and his crew for their stay in Vancouver. The boys said Maureen was a real Irish mother to them and Jimmy a font of knowledge on Gaelic games.
So many others volunteered in so many ways to make the evening sparkle. It was really impressive to see the community come together united in a common cause. Cancer has left an empty space in the lives of so many - hardly anyone has not felt the impact in some way or another.
Eddie Emerman, owner of the Blarney Stone was also a star for opening up the Blarney Stone for the evening to make the fundraiser a reality. Part of the proceeds were also donated to Tony's "Ride for the Cure."
Ronan Deane of the ISSC was really the lynch pin in getting the fundraiser organized. He did just a fantastic job as MC of the event. Born in Cork, and never lost for words, he kept the evening running smoothly with a lot of humour.
Tony Griffin has a day of rest in Calgary, where a white stetson fundraising evening is also planned at the Irish Centre in Calgary. A similar fundraising event is planned for Winnipeg in their Irish Centre just before he leaves the western provinces and heads into eastern Canada.
Ronan Deane has reported that $4,600 was raised at the fundraiser at the Blarney Stone. For anyone who could not attend the fundraiser but who would like to contribute to Tony Griffin's "Ride for the Cure," please contact Ronan Deane at (604) 461-1141, e-mail: ronandeane@hotmail.com, or visit: www.isscvancouver.com.
For more details on the Tony Griffin Foundation and "The Ride for the Cure," visit www.tonygriffinfoundation.com.
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