2011 marks the 250th anniversary of the veterinary profession and commemorates the opening of the first veterinary college in Lyons, France in 1761. Veterinary Ireland and the Veterinary Council have launched a number of events to mark the occasion.
One of Veterinary Ireland's initiatives for this auspicious year is to throw its weight behind a major fundraising drive by VIVA.
Our flagship fundraiser, the annual VIVA Wheelers 100 km cycle challenge takes place in Westport this year. Veterinary Ireland hopes to mobilise over 250 vets to take part as an expression of solidarity between the veterinary profession in Ireland and livestock farmers in the Developing World. This event will raise much needed funds for our overseas projects.
The VIVA Wheelers have raised over € 165,000 for VIVA's projects through their cycle challenges. Joining the VIVA Wheelers is a fantastic opportunity to get fit, explore some of our most scenic areas by bike and raise funds for a good cause. Our events are organised by a professional cycle tours company and the routes are selected to ensure that cyclists of all abilities can take part. Many of the cyclists return to our events year after year.
In conjunction with the Cycle Challenge, VIVA are organising a raffle with a grand prize of a pedigree Limousin Heifer. For those who can't accommodate the heifer in their back garden, the option of the value at sale of the heifer will be offered! To raise their sponsorship, participants on the Cycle Challenge can sell tickets for this raffle or indeed organise events of their own.
2011 is also the European Year of the Volunteer. We're now calling all vets with their slogan – " Volunteer – make a difference " – and we hope that the profession will respond in big numbers.
For further information on the VIVA Wheelers contact Mike Burke on 086 – 2568357 or mike@viva.ie. You can also follow us on Facebook.
