Special Olympics Ireland launches fundraising campaign
Support an Athlete – Share the Feeling – Fundraise Today!
Special Olympics Ireland launches fundraising campaign –
"Special Olympics is the way the world should be; abundant in joy and understanding and showing no judgment. An environment where competition does not make an enemy of your fellow athlete, but a friend. For this and many other reasons I am honoured to be involved” That’s what Colin Farrell has to say about Support an Athlete, the major Special Olympics Ireland athlete recruitment and fundraising campaign launched today (Tuesday, 9th January 2007).
Special Olympics athletes Andrew McCarthy (7) and Ben O’Riordan (8) from Blackrock Flyers Club made cakes for sale at their Support an Athlete ‘Bring and Buy’ stall, the first fundraiser of the campaign, with some help from campaign supporter Kathryn Thomas, Special Olympics patron, Ian Dempsey, TV3’s Ireland AM presenter, Sinead Desmond and Cathal Magee, Managing Director, eircom Retail.
Through Support an Athlete, supported by eircom, Special Olympics Ireland needs to raise €5 million in 2007 to:
- support the existing programme which caters for 11,000 athletes (reaching 33% of all people with a learning disability in Ireland), 18,000 volunteers, 2,500 family members and 402 clubs
- continue to grow the Special Olympics programme so that more people with a learning disability have an opportunity to participate in sport
- prepare and train a team of 143 athletes, 55 coaches and 200 volunteers for the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Shanghai, China
A Support an Athlete campaign office has been set up in every county in Ireland with a dedicated coordinator supporting local fundraising activities. eircom has provided valuable IT and telephone services for each office and FءS has allocated scheme workers to support each local coordinator.
Information about all aspects of the campaign can be found at www.specialolympics.ie, powered by eircom.net, carrying the complete offline experience to the online medium, where people can download the Support an Athlete pack, donate online and register an event. Fundraisers can call a dedicated hotline on Lo Call 1850 555 222 (from RoI) and 00800 555 222 55 (from NI) also. Over 25,000 campaign packs have been distributed throughout the country and the response from community groups to businesses and colleges to crèches has been very positive.
Many celebrities have signed up to support the campaign; Colin Farrell and Kathryn Thomas are featured on the campaign pack and other stars such as GAA heroes DJ Carey, Conor Mortimer and Sean Boylan, entertainers Tabby, Mickey Harte and The Saw Doctors and rugby players Paul O’Connell, Brian O’Driscoll and David Humphreys to name but a few, have pledged to support the campaign in their local counties by recording local radio station ads and attending Support an Athlete fundraising events.
Flagship events have been planned in each county such as golf classics, ladies luncheons and dinner dances. The campaign will finish on 27th April with a fundraising initiative which will see every town and city in Ireland request a donation from people travelling particular routes. On the same day Special Olympics Ireland will also unveil details of the delegation of 143 athletes and 55 coaches attending the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games with take place in Shanghai, China in October.
According to Mary Davis, CEO, Special Olympics Ireland, “It is four years since the World Games were held here in Ireland and in that time Special Olympics has introduced a further 4,000 people with a learning disability to the joy and benefits of participation in sport. And as we prepare to send a team to the 2007 World Games in October, the real challenge is to keep raising funds to ensure that Special Olympics can continue to offer physical, social and emotional support to people with a learning disability in their own communities. With the support of the Irish people, just like in 2003 and since, we know we can do this.”
Cathal Magee, Managing Director, eircom Retail added, “Eircom is delighted to partner Special Olympics Ireland for the Support an Athlete campaign as it will help create more athlete opportunities in local communities. And eircom is right there with Special Olympics, as we have been since 1985, delivering on the promise of helping Special Olympics create ‘a place for everyone’ with a learning disability in Ireland.”
For more information on Support an Athlete visit www.specialolympics.ie or call Lo Call 1850 555 222 (from RoI) or 00800 555 222 55 (from NI).
ENDS
For further information please contact:
Mary Gleeson
Special Olympics Ireland
t: 01 8691616/086 2213077
e: mary.gleeson@specialolympics.ie