Sporting stars Alan Hansen and Kenny Dalglish came to Galway this week to officially launch Galway Bay 10 2004 which will take place on 4th September 2004 at 5pm. The soccer legends launched the official Galway Bay 10 tee-shirt and encouraged people all over the West and beyond to ‘Go the Extra Mile’ for Cancer Care West. Following the spectacular success of the inaugural Galway Bay 10 Mile Run and Walk last September, which raised €250,000 for the Inis Aoibheann Lodge and ARC(Aftercare, Research and Counselling) in just one evening, this year’s event looks set to be bigger than ever. Ambitious targets have been set for 2004 and the goal is to raise €500,000 and attract double the number of entrants as last year. This goal certainly seem well within reach with the support of local radio station Galway Bay FM who is backing the event as the main sponsor and Vhi Healthcare which has come on board as sponsors of the Corporate Challenge part of the event.

Managing director of Galway Bay FM Keith Finnegan, who helped make last year’s event so successful said, “Galway Bay FM is delighted to support an event like this which will have such a positive effect on cancer patients in the West of Ireland. We look forward to working with Galway Bay 10 to raise awareness of the event and its cause in Galway and beyond.”

Galway Bay 10 received great support from individuals and local companies last year, including the Galway Bay Hotel, the Promenade Salthill, which continues to support the event in 2004. The race route changes slightly this year and participants will set off from Galway Bay Causeway surrounded by the beauty of the glistening bay. The route will wind its way through some of the most scenic areas of Galway and Salthill and finish up at Nimmo's Pier where the fun continues with a Post-race celebration and presentation of prizes. Chairperson of Galway Bay 10 Bernard Duffy said “We wanted to create an event for ordinary people that would have an extraordinary outcome and I think we have achieved this with Galway Bay 10.

People all over Galway and the West are being asked to sign up as soon as possible to ‘Go the Extra Mile’ for Cancer Care West. Further information, entry forms and sponsorship cards available from the Galway Bay 10 office at 091 554118 or by accessing www.galwaybay10.com.