THE organisers of the hugely popular Ballycommon Sponsored Ride are gearing up for the annual fundraising event on Sunday, March 20th in Co Tipperary.

Now in its sixth year, the beneficiariesof the ride include TLC4CF, North Tipperary Hospice, One in Four and Nenagh Special Summer Camp.

This year, the Ballycommon Sponsored Ride is reconnecting with the first event in the series, which was held in aid of Mírmeara, the autism unit at Kildangan NS.

It’s all in aid of the playground project at Kildangan NS where the school management has set a target of €70,000 to provide enhanced play facilities for all of its 137 pupils.

The school’s ‘Mírmeara’ special class for autismwas set up in 2006. One of only three special classes of its kind in the locality, Mírmeara serves a huge catchment area and is presently availed of by six children.

To date, the inclusion of pupils with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) within the mainstream setting has been very successful but Kildangan NS would now like to extend this success to the playground and social setting by creating a new playground where all of the pupils can learn through play.

More than 200 riders are expected to join in the fundraising efforts by joining one of three groups – the Mad Hackers, Happy Hackers or Leisurely Hackers.

Tractor taxis will ferry spectators of all ages around the routes, allowing people to get up close to the horse jumping action while also taking in the scenery.

A big attraction this year will be the ‘Celebrity Wall’ puissance, a new addition in which a group of well-known local personalities will take on a daring horse jump challenge.

Titled ‘I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Over It’, the horses in the event are being provided by Nenagh Equestrian Centre. There will also be a pony puissance and horse jumping for children.

The ride is run in conjunction with the North Tipperary Foxhounds and possible through the generosity of local landowners.

For more information, check out the Bally Common Sr Facebook page.