The National Council for the Blind of Ireland's Blazing Saddles are preparing for the challenge of a lifetime on the ‘Hub ‘n’ Spoke’ tour of South Africa. Their target is to raise €250,000 for vision impaired people in Ireland, while cycling through the beautiful land of seascapes and mountains, cliffs and tranquil valleys, dense bush-land and open savannahs - and they’re looking for more recruits!

Headed by Tour Leader Philip Cassidy and Tour Director Eamon Duffy, the team of 130 Blazing Saddles will travel through locations such as Oudtshoorn, Caledon, Cape Town, Stellenbosch and Cape Point, cycling 8 tough stages over 900 kilometres in 10 days. However it is not all work and no play and the intrepid fundraisers will be rewarded for their endeavours at the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront as well as travelling to ‘Africa's Kingdom of Pleasure’ Sun City Resort for some rest and relaxation.

If this sounds tempting all you have to do is get on yer bike and join in the fundraising and fun! Anyone over 18 years of age who cycles and is willing to do some training in advance can apply to join the Blazing Saddles and fundraise for the NCBI. "It's not easy - it never has been. But it is guaranteed to be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life" says Tour Director Eamon Duffy.

The Blazing Saddles have been an integral part of NCBI's fundraising for the last 10 years, travelling through Europe and as far afield as Thailand, China, the USA and Australia. Funds raised by the Blazing Saddles are used to enable the National Council for the Blind of Ireland to provide essential services for vision impaired people in Ireland such as advice, information and support from a nationwide network of community resource workers, mobility and daily living skills training, peer counselling and family therapy, low vision clinic, talking book and Braille libraries and much more.

If you encounter any of our Blazing Saddles on route to their target, whether it's fitness training or fundraising, do your best to support them with funds and encouragement - and help the National Council for the Blind of Ireland to promote independence!

If anyone is interested in joining the Blazing Saddles just contact Eleanor or Marjorie on 1850 33 43 53 or email marjorie.ohara@ncbi.ie.