Sport and Charity can be a powerful combination but it takes hard work from both sides to make it effective.That was a clear outcome from the Sport for Business Members Round Table on the subject of Sport and Charity held earlier this year.
Each week we will highlight particular projects or initiatives from within Ireland and further afield that illustrate just how things might be done as well as they can be.
Entertaining Man United
On April 27th a team of Man United legends including Ray Wilkins, Bryan Robson and Frank Stapleton will travel to Deans Grange near Dun Laoghaire to play against a local team at the grounds of TEK United in a major fundraiser for Diabetes Ireland.
One of the main drivers behind the day, which will attract soccer fans from across the spectrum, is Tony Browne who has four sone all with Diabetes and wanted to put on an event to raise money and awareness of the work being done by the charity.
The match itself will take place at 3pm and will be preceded and followed by ‘meet and greet’ sessions at a local pub and by a dinner dance in the Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire that evening.
The main attraction is to get stars of yesterday that will appeal to parents, playing in a kit that will appeal to kids and creating enough money raising ideas around the event to make it into a serious fundraiser.
Kids Run for Limerick
Ireland’s largest single mass participation event for children, the Barringtons Hospital Great Limerick Run Kids Run for Fun, will take place on Saturday, May 4th.
More than 1,500 children aged 4 to 12 years of age are expected to participate in the event at the University of Limerick the day before the annual Barringtons Hospital Great Limerick Run.
The Run will feature a 1Km Wheelchair Track (4-12 years), 1Km Grass track (4-7 years) and 2 miles Trail (8-12 years).
The event is being organised by The Great Limerick Run in association with the Limerick Sports Partnerships and the HSE Health Promotion Unit.
It also involves a programme of training sessions with former Ireland and Munster Rugby International Jerry Flannery at local primary schools that will give kids the advice and motivation needed to encourage them to participate in the Kids Run for Fun.
“The three Kids Run for Fun races are designed to encourage kids from all sections of society to participate in sport and healthy activity,” said Elaine O Connor, coordinator of the Limerick City Sports Partnership.
Registrations for the not-for-profit Kids Run for Fun on Saturday 4th May 2013 are now being invited on www.greatlimerickrun.com/about/kids. Each child will receive a GLR T-shirt, medal and goodie bag.
Next week we look at how Special Olympics Ireland are preparing for their national collection day. If you know of a sporting event with a strong and innovative charity connection please do let us know by sending details to us through our contact page.
