Shane Byrne today urged people to take part in NCBI’s (National Council for the Blind of Ireland) Cape Town Walk in October 2009 and also found time to predict which Irish players will travel to South Africa this summer as part of the 2009 Lions team.

Shane’s top five Irish players to make the Lions team are: Brian O’Driscoll for captain, alongside Paul O’Connell, Donnacha O’Callaghan, David Wallace and Luke Fitzgerald.

The competition to make the Lions team is fierce and only time will tell how accurate Shane’s predictions are when the team is announced next week. However, you don’t need to wait to join NCBI’s team in South Africa this October.

“South Africa is the place to be at the moment!” according to Shane. “NCBI provides services to around 14,000 people living with sight loss in Ireland and fundraising makes up a large part of their income. In these difficult times of budget cuts and cost saving measures, NCBI needs your help more than ever to ensure that they can continue to provide vital services around the country,” continued Shane.

Presided over by Table Mountain and skirted by the Atlantic Ocean, Cape Town offers some amazing walks. The walking challenges will take place over five days, between October 31st and November 11th 2009, with walks varying between 8 and 12 miles. €500 will reserve your place; with an overall fundraising target of €4,800 per person.

“Reaching the fundraising target can seem like a difficult prospect at first but once you break it down into smaller targets, it’s very manageable,” said Eugene Bent, Director of Fundraising with NCBI. “Both sighted and vision impaired people take part in NCBI’s fundraising trips so it’s a great chance to meet new people and help people with sight loss.”

For more information or to get involved in the Cape Town Walk contact Michelle Banks, NCBI on 1850 33 43 53 or email michelle.banks@ncbi.ie.