LEADING jump jockey Andrew Lynch is promoting a cause dear to his heart, the Kieran Gore fund as he explained that Kieran “is the son of close family friends’’.

Kieran was diagnosed in 2012 with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. DMD is an inherited (genetic) condition which affects the muscles, causing muscle weakness.There is no cure for DMD at present but treatments can help. From the age of around 9-11 walking becomes more difficult and a wheelchair is required. Complications begin at this point whereby children will need specialist care and assistance. To find out more and to donate go to www.thekierangorefund.com.

Moyglare lads on their bikes for doggy friends

LONGTIME Moyglare Stud employees - Paddy ‘Red’ Ennis, Andrew ‘Wiggins’ Bartley and Francis ‘Scobie’ Broad are doing a 325km charity cycle ride next Saturday, June 20th through their cycle club the Donadea Wheelers, the challenge trip being from Howth Head to Keam Beach in Achill.

Andrew Bartley, Anthony Delaney, Darrell O’Brien, David Hynes, David O’Neill, Declan Cullen, Frank Broad, Jim Lawor, Padraig O’Dea, Paddy Ennis, Paul Dardis and Sean Daragh will leave Howth Head at sunrise hopefully ariving in Achill before sunset.

The charity the lads are supporting is My Canine Companion which provides highly trained and skilled service dogs to people with disabilities, particularly autism. They hope to raise much needed funds for a young local child. You can make a donation online at www.idonate.ie/DonadeaWheelers.

The service dogs make dramatic differences in the quality of life for children with autism and their families. Some of the benefits are: the dogs help increase safety levels and alleviate bolting behaviours, act as an anchor when tethered to the child, provide independence as the child doesn’t have to hold the parents’ hand, provide greater freedom to go out in public thanks to the calming effect of the dog, help with transitioning which leads to reduced stress levels and a more positive experience for all and perhaps most importantly act as a constant companion, offering unconditional love and friendship to the child.