Paralympics Ireland launched a new fundraising campaign last night at the Irish Embassy in London, nestled beside the grounds of Buckingham Palace.
The audience was an exclusive gathering of movers and shakers in the London Irish community who had taken the team to heart with its triumph and 16 medals at London 2012.
The presentation was simple but effective with Ambassador Dan Mullhall leading a warm tribute to the way in which Paralympic athletes had helped to change the way we view those different to ourselves.
He was followed by star athletes Ellen Keane from the pool and Jason Smyth and Michael McKillop from the track telling their stories of what it means to be an elite athlete and overcoming disability.
McKillop spoke warmly of the six second embrace with his mother when she presented his medal at the Olympic Stadium.
Smyth remembered the realisation that the crowd that same night of 80,000 were cheering him to victory and Keane spoke of how swimming had given her the self confidence to stop hiding her disability and instead to challenge it at every turn. Having completed her Leaving Cert last year while still competing at the highest level she is now studying a course in culinary entrepreneurship at DIT. “It’s not an obvious course for someone with only one arm but I’m doing it and loving it,” she told the room.
Gordon Darcy was asking the questions in his new role as an ambassador for Paralympics Ireland and last night was the first public display of energy and output from the commercial advisory board which the NGB put together last year and is paying dividends.
The all important ‘ask’ was delivered with warmth and finesse by Liam Harbison at the end of the formal proceedings.
“It costs €5,000 to send an athlete to Rio. With €10,000 we can build in the level of coaching and scientific back up that can turn extraordinary individuals into extraordinary champions.”
“Our new Champions support programme has a package of benefits for companies or philanthropic individuals that can commit to a three year undertaking of €15,000 per annum.”
They will be helping towards this cycle but also building out an Academy for the performers and inspirers of the future, towards Tokyo in 2020 and hopefully back to Europe in 2024.
These are exciting times for the team at Paralympics Ireland. Fresh commitments from Allianz and OCS have been secured and a new campaign as well as other news important to the profile of the team will be coming down the tracks at speed in the coming weeks and months.
Patrick Haslett will be on our panel of sporting body commercial leaders this Thursday addressing a packed room of Sport for Business members on their hopes and plans for 2016.
All sport is important in how it makes us feel and lifts our spirit. The Paralympics though is perhaps first among equals in that context delivering not only the emotional power of seeing irish athletes triumph on the biggest stages but in highlighting how disability can be overcome and changing peoples view of those around us who are different in their bodies but human in every other way, and superhuman in their finest moments.
If you feel that you or your company might be able to support Paralympics Ireland get in touch and we will put you speaking with the right person.
