Two of the world’s greatest cycling legends took the 2008 BDO Get BACk Challenge on June 21st to raise funds for cancer care and sporting disadvantaged children in the Mid West.  Three time Tour de France winner Greg LeMond and former world cycling number one Sean Kelly cycled with Limerick businesses and local bodies to raise €300,000 for the charity event.  The event is a major annual initiative organised by BDO Simpson Xavier with the support of a wide range of businesses throughout the mid west.
 
 
The 2008 event represented the third running of the BDO Get BACk Challenge.  In the previous two years of the event it has contributed a total of €300,000 to both cancer care and sporting disadvantaged youth.  Almost €200,000 has been donated to mid west cancer care while over 4,000 children have benefited from the allocation of over €100,000 to a variety of grant schemes and sports participation programmes.  The sporting disadvantaged programme targeted children in socially disadvantaged with the support of the Local Sports Partnership.

 
The event started in 2006 with the support of six main partners in a mid west ‘Business Against Cancer’ driven initiative.  The partners included AIB, Bank of Ireland, Bloxhams, Leahy & Partners and Sweeney McGann Solicitors along with event organisers BDO Simpson Xavier.  A number of new partners have become involved in the event this year.  They include Hegarty Metals, Kemmy Business School UL, GE Commercial Aviation Services, Limerick City Regeneration Agency, Doonbeg Golf Resort, Brooks Properties and the Hard Rock Cafe.  
 
 
Three time Tour de France winner Greg LeMond cycled in the Limerick and Clare area for the first time since his appearance in former Nissan Classics.  Commenting on his involvement he noted ‘It was great to return to Ireland to participate in such a great event. My grandmother\\\'s family came from the County Cork and I have a real love for Ireland. I am delighted to support the Get BACk Challenge working towards promoting a healthy and active lifestyle among young people in addition to supporting the great work of the Hospice movement.  Getting young people into sport from a young age will lead to so many benefits in terms of health and social impact.  The ability to unify so many businesses and organisations towards a common social cause is also a great achievement. I look forward to riding with Sean Kelly and being able to enjoy the beautiful scenery while helping with such a great cause, instead of racing at a whirlwind speed like we did in the Nissan Classics"