Brian Takes on Mont Blanc Summit

One of our Directors, Brian Cunning, is attempting to summit the renowned Mont Blanc, Western Europe’s tallest peak standing at 15,773 feet, situated on the French-Italian border. In moving out of his comfort zone and pushing his boundaries, Brian will also be raising awareness about the need for funding in support of The Causeway Giant's Wheelchair Basketball Club.

Ryan Archibald, a local Ballymoney man, was one of the founding members of the Causeway Giants, which was started in 2018. Ryan is a successful Olympic Swimmer, having won Bronze for Team Ireland in the 2007 Shanghai Paralympics.

He is a very determined athlete, being involved not only in basketball but also in table tennis, swimming and in the past playing for the NI Cerebral Palsy football team. Ryan really enjoys the competitive element of sport and finds the social aspect, where he can meet new people, every bit as rewarding. This was one the main catalysts for him starting The Causeway Giants, coupled with the fact that Ryan had to travel to Antrim to play basketball with the Belfast Knights, at considerable expense to himself. Establishing the Giants now sees Ryan and his teammates in direct competition with the Knights and is helping with the league's expansion, all of which provides greater opportunity for budding athletes in the local area.

Ryan now trains with his team at Ulster University Coleraine, and they are a growing team, constantly recruiting new members. The club is open to all, both those with a disability and those who are able-bodied. The club competes in the NI Wheelchair Basketball League along with three other clubs: The Knights, North West Wolves and Craigavon Lakers.

Any monies raised will go towards purchasing the equipment necessary to help individual club members reach their full potential in the sport and promote the success of The Causeway Giants within the local community and beyond.