VIVA Wheelers heading to Bantry and New Zealand!

The VIVA Wheelers, that band of enthusiastic cyclists that have raised almost € 150,000 for VIVA's projects have just announced two new upcoming fundraising cycles.

Their annual one-day cycle heads to Bantry on Saturday, September 11th this year. The route covering 100km around the Sheep's Head and Mizen peninsulas takes in some of the most spectacular scenery in west Cork.For the committed cyclist, there's a longer loop, which takes in Mizen Head, bringing the distance up to approx. 140km.

Are you hoping to go to the World Cup in New Zealand in 2011? Want to do something useful while you're there? Well, VIVA are planning a five day cycle challenge on the South Island between the Ireland v Italy match and the first round qualifier. The itinerary and costs are being finalised at present and should be available soon.

To register your interest in any of the above or for more information contact Mike Burke on mike@viva.ie or at 086 - 2568357

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2009 Mike O'Leary Trust Travel Bursary Report

Last summer, UCD veterinary student Carmel Molloy, travelled to Uganda (as a recipient of the Mike O'Leary Trust Travel Bursary, to spend a month on VIVA's animal traction project in eastern Uganda. Her brief was to carry out a survey on animal health control strategies on behalf of our partner there, Heifer Uganda. The report provides an interesting overview of disease incidence in this area and outlines the many difficulties in the promotion and provision of disease control strategies such as vaccination and acaricidal use.

The full report can be read here.

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Kosovo AI project

(Brendan O'Connor (R) presents an AI equipment kit to Mike Burke of VIVA)

Brendan O'Connor of Munster AI recently presented VIVA with an AI kit box for its project in Kosovo. In October of last year, Brendan travelled to Kosovo to provide refresher training to some local vets there who provide an AI service to Kosovar farmers involved in VIVA's project (you can read more here). The kit box, which Brendan designed himself, provides convenient, hygienic storage for all the inseminator's equipment and will be used by our partner, Heifer Kosovo, as a demonstration model.

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