Sport for Business will be out on the streets of Blackrock in Dublin this morning shaking a bucket to raise money for Special Olympics Ireland on its hugely important National Collection Day.
We will be far from the only ones putting a small amount of time into a huge national effort backed by 30 year sponsor eir and which hopes to raise €650,000 over the next 24 hours.
“Collection Day is the main fundraising initiative for Special Olympics Ireland,” said eir Wholesale Managing Director Carolann Lennon.
“This day will bring in vital funds for the charity, ensuring they can continue to offer their sports and training services in cities, towns and villages all across Ireland.”
“eir employees, from Belfast to Cork, will be on the streets in their local communities raising much needed funds for Special Olympics Ireland, its 360 clubs and 9,100 athletes.”
In fact there will be 3,000 volunteers at 250 locations, including representatives from the Women’s Gaelic Players Association including Anna Geary pictured above, the Irish Amateur Boxing Association, the Gaelic Players Association and Aer Lingus who will be collecting on all its flights today.
2016 is an exciting year for Special Olympics Ireland as the organisation rolls out its island-wide area events competition programme, which sees athletes progress from one level of competition to the next. In addition to competition, a range of training and other opportunities are available for athletes through Sports Development days and a wide range of leagues in 6 sports (athletics, aquatics, basketball, bocce, bowling and football).
“Special Olympics is truly fortunate to have such fantastically loyal and dedicated supporters, from volunteers out shaking buckets to businesses from the corporate world such as eir and Aer Lingus to whom we are very grateful for their on-going support,” said Matt English, Special Olympics CEO.
“It is also heartening for everyone at Special Olympics to have the Women’s Gaelic Players Association, the Gaelic Players Assocation, the Irish Amateur Boxing Association and indeed Sport for Business support us this Collection Day.”
“I am hoping that the general public comes out to support us in whatever way they can this Collection Day. Every single euro really does make a difference to our athletes.”
What each of does today matters, it really does. Do what you can to help today and make a difference for people like these…
