Brady’s Coolquay €25,000 donation to Special Olympics Ireland
Brady’s Coolquay has made a significant donation to Special Olympics Ireland – look out for the full feature on the fantastic new-look forecourt in the September October edition of IFCR!
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Special Olympics Ireland continued to support its’ network of 292 community based clubs and 7,351 athletes by working diligently to develop new ways to keep its athletes physically and emotionally fit. This included operating virtual clubs, which helped athletes stay connected and motivated, plus it gave athletes more opportunities to get involved in Special Olympics Health, Wellbeing, Leadership and Young Athletes ™ Programmes. For the first time ever, athletes were also given the opportunity to enter virtual competitions and challenges.
Special Olympics clubs are transitioning to living with COVID-19 and many are making the return to sport or are preparing to do so. One such club is Club Ash Special Olympics Club who are receiving training so that their coaches and volunteers are equipped and empowered to adapt their training sessions in a safe way.
Athlete Eoin Carey from Ashbourne met up with the team at Brady’s of Coolquay today to thank them and had this to say: “ I am so happy to be back training at my Special Olympics club, it’s great to see all my friends again and get back to training so I can focus on my health.”
Also in attendance was Matt English, CEO of Special Olympics Ireland who said: “Raising vital funds has been very challenging during the Pandemic. I was thrilled to receive a call from Johnny Brady saying that he heard our appeal funds and wanted to support Special Olympics via Brady’s At Coolquay. Funds raised are helping us to continue our vision, because, like our athletes, we can’t stop now. We want to reach more children and adults with an intellectual disability across the island of Ireland so that they too can enjoy all the benefits that sport gives which include improved physical and mental health as well as the huge social benefits being part of our clubs has on the athlete and their family unit. I would also like to sincerely thank all of Brady’s At Coolquay’s customers who supported this fundraising drive over the past couple of months, helping to raise an amazing €25,000!. I would like to also wish Johnny and the whole team continued success with their state of the art Platinum Auto Wash at Coolquay”
Johnny Brady, owner of Brady’s at Coolquay furthered “We were delighted to be able to support Special Olympics fundraising appeal, which suffered greatly due to the pandemic, and thanks to the generosity of our customers we raised €25,000 for Special Olympics Ireland. To raise this money we sold reusable branded cloths at our new state of the art car wash – Platinum Auto Wash – where we then matched the customers donation. It has been a great pleasure to meet Eoin, an athlete from our local group Club Ash, and look forward to hearing more of his achievements.”
In addition to supporting their network of athletes, clubs and volunteers, Special Olympics Ireland are proving that they can’t stop now by publishing an ambitious five year strategic plan. Some of the key focus areas are across early intervention through their Young Athletes Programme™, building resilient, adaptable clubs, which includes an exciting new inclusive clubs model, new health initiatives, bringing athletes to the forefront and so much more.
Platinum Auto Wash Image (L-R)
Sean O’Sullivan, Eoin Carey, Matt English – CEO Special Olympics, Bryan Menton, Johnny Brady, Aron Evans, Pamela Kavanagh (Marketing and Communication Manager, Special Olympics Ireland).
_______________________________________________________________________
For any queries please contact Natalie Dennis, Marketing, JSB Holdings
