Wexford Special Olympics Club
Donation protected
A 2 minute read for The Wexford Special Olympics Club...
So, the big 50 has caught up on me and will become a new number in my life on Dec 18th. Its true... 2020 does suck . But I'm a believer in age being just a number. Health is more important. Which brings me to my challenge to raise funds for the Wexford Special Olympics Club. I'm going to "try" to run 50km for my 50th birthday, from the Ferrycarraig Bridge to the top of Mt Leinster...the lowest point to the highest point in the county. 794m of elevation, with most of that in the last 15km.
However, more important than the birthday challenge, are the funds i hope to raise for the Wexford Special Olympics Club, a club with 110 athletes, coaches and helpers who simply love the club. My daughter Jennie, born with Down Syndrome in 2004, has had years of enjoyment, learnings and achievements, along with meeting some of her best friends from being a member of this great club.
Starting my 50km run at the lowest point and finishing at the highest point in Wexford is a symbol of how life starts for the kids and adults in this club. From day 1, their life is more complicated and difficult than most people. They have to fight harder to achieve the simple things we all take for granted. The climb ahead of them is steep, much steeper than mine on Dec 19th. Jennie left hospital 8 months after she was born having undergone major heart surgery... her climb was only beginning. After a further 3 months of tube feeding at home, she began to fight back. She grew stronger. Grew more independent. Went to pre school. Then joined the magnificent Kilrane main stream NS, and is now in Our Lady of Fatima school. Aged 8, she joined the Wexford Special Olympics club. From her first class spent on my knee, she grew in confidence and I was kicked out . She learned new sports. Rythmic gymnastics, floor gymnastics, Bocce, basketball, athletics. Performed in countless competitions. Then got selected to perform at the All Ireland games, representing Leinster in the National Sports Stadium 2 years ago. An incredible experience for Jennie, and all the athletes in the club. This summer, Jennie did her first mini triathlon, using a paddle board to swim in the sea, followed by a bike and run. It was mini... but she felt like she did an Ironman. She wants to do an Ironman. I moan about having to swim...Jennie is 5 years learning, is not there yet, and WILL NOT give up. She will swim unaided.
Now aged 16, she has won 13 gold medals, 7 silver and 8 bronze. These are testament to what she has achieved so far with her Special Olympics Club. However, more importantly than the medal count, she has had countless hours of fun with the club, and met best friends for life. I can only tell you the story of Jennies climb, from her lowest point to her highest point...but I assure you that all her friends in the club have had a similar climb. They never complain. They never miss a session. They love it.
Clubs don't work without volunteers, coaches, committees and money. Every cent spent is raised by the club. They have to raise thousands to send athletes to World games, All Ireland games, and provincial games. This group of people deserve so much recognition, but they do it because they love it. Week after week they give up their time. Their passion and commitment is extraordinary. I thank them from the bottom of my heart.
2020, the Covid year, has seen fund raising hit rock bottom. Hence my desire to give something back to the club for the fun and achievements Jennie has got from the club.
They have all climbed bigger hills than I will on Dec 18th. They will all reach greater heights and go through bigger obstacles than I ever will. I'm just honoured and lucky that I can give something back.
Please support me with what you can. Every cent counts. Thank you so much.
So, the big 50 has caught up on me and will become a new number in my life on Dec 18th. Its true... 2020 does suck . But I'm a believer in age being just a number. Health is more important. Which brings me to my challenge to raise funds for the Wexford Special Olympics Club. I'm going to "try" to run 50km for my 50th birthday, from the Ferrycarraig Bridge to the top of Mt Leinster...the lowest point to the highest point in the county. 794m of elevation, with most of that in the last 15km.
However, more important than the birthday challenge, are the funds i hope to raise for the Wexford Special Olympics Club, a club with 110 athletes, coaches and helpers who simply love the club. My daughter Jennie, born with Down Syndrome in 2004, has had years of enjoyment, learnings and achievements, along with meeting some of her best friends from being a member of this great club.
Starting my 50km run at the lowest point and finishing at the highest point in Wexford is a symbol of how life starts for the kids and adults in this club. From day 1, their life is more complicated and difficult than most people. They have to fight harder to achieve the simple things we all take for granted. The climb ahead of them is steep, much steeper than mine on Dec 19th. Jennie left hospital 8 months after she was born having undergone major heart surgery... her climb was only beginning. After a further 3 months of tube feeding at home, she began to fight back. She grew stronger. Grew more independent. Went to pre school. Then joined the magnificent Kilrane main stream NS, and is now in Our Lady of Fatima school. Aged 8, she joined the Wexford Special Olympics club. From her first class spent on my knee, she grew in confidence and I was kicked out . She learned new sports. Rythmic gymnastics, floor gymnastics, Bocce, basketball, athletics. Performed in countless competitions. Then got selected to perform at the All Ireland games, representing Leinster in the National Sports Stadium 2 years ago. An incredible experience for Jennie, and all the athletes in the club. This summer, Jennie did her first mini triathlon, using a paddle board to swim in the sea, followed by a bike and run. It was mini... but she felt like she did an Ironman. She wants to do an Ironman. I moan about having to swim...Jennie is 5 years learning, is not there yet, and WILL NOT give up. She will swim unaided.
Now aged 16, she has won 13 gold medals, 7 silver and 8 bronze. These are testament to what she has achieved so far with her Special Olympics Club. However, more importantly than the medal count, she has had countless hours of fun with the club, and met best friends for life. I can only tell you the story of Jennies climb, from her lowest point to her highest point...but I assure you that all her friends in the club have had a similar climb. They never complain. They never miss a session. They love it.
Clubs don't work without volunteers, coaches, committees and money. Every cent spent is raised by the club. They have to raise thousands to send athletes to World games, All Ireland games, and provincial games. This group of people deserve so much recognition, but they do it because they love it. Week after week they give up their time. Their passion and commitment is extraordinary. I thank them from the bottom of my heart.
2020, the Covid year, has seen fund raising hit rock bottom. Hence my desire to give something back to the club for the fun and achievements Jennie has got from the club.
They have all climbed bigger hills than I will on Dec 18th. They will all reach greater heights and go through bigger obstacles than I ever will. I'm just honoured and lucky that I can give something back.
Please support me with what you can. Every cent counts. Thank you so much.
Organizer
Andrew O Brien
Organizer