It’s great when a story comes together just right.  Special Olympics Ireland had to abandon their annual bucket collection back in April because of Covid-19.

This would have left a huge hole in their funding for the year so an alternative had to be found.  The challenge was to stand out in a landscape where every other charity was facing the same problem, and when disposable income was being squeezed.

The #CantStopNow Campaign was the outcome and it is proving to be a winner.

Running across print, outdoor, social, radio and online video, the campaign highlights that the only thing that can stop Special Olympics athletes living fulfilling lives and pursuing their dreams isn’t anything to do with their disabilities, but the lack of funding due to the current pandemic.

Personal Journeys

The work marries imagery of Ireland’s Special Olympians – including Anna Kilmartin, Aisling Beacom, and Margaret Turley – with powerful statements and stories inspired by their own personal journeys of overcoming adversity.

Special Olympics Ireland needs to raise half a million Euros to help over 8,000 athletes like these across Ireland.

Good Brains for Good Brands is an idea that was set up in London to bring together the skillsets of industry professionals – those either freelance or let go from advertising, PR, entertainment and tech firms – to help charities plug the funding gap caused by the pandemic and the worst recession on record.

In under three days of the Special Olympics Ireland brief landing with Good Brains, a team was assembled, led by Mark Shanley, Susan O’Hanlon and Google Strategist, Aps Bangur.

Hustle

Everyone gave their time and skills for free and then hustled to not only create the campaign but also get it made for next to nothing thanks to partnerships with Red Rage Productions, photographer Adrian Stewart and the post-production houses 750 MPH and Screen Scene Dublin.

The final kicker was a call to Revolut’s Head of Growth Brian Curtin, formerly of Fitbit and Three, who supported the campaign going onto the banking card’s donations page.  It is one of only two Irish charities, the other being the Irish Red Cross currently being promoted and messaging has been subtle but strong to cardholders over the last few days.

“We can’t thank the team who have helped us enough for gifting us their great passion, energy, brains and creativity, said Annemarie Sweeney, Director of Marketing, Communications and Fundraising at Special Olympics Ireland.

“We would not have the funds to create a campaign of this quality and scale and we are humbled by the goodwill and generosity that made it all possible.”

The campaign runs to this Friday, October 16th.  Donate at cantstopnow.ie