Pictured: IT Sligo Students who raised much needed funds for Special Olympics Connaught.
(L-R) Back Row: Michelle Flynn, Cathal O’Fearraigh, Paddy Concannon, Ciara Mc Partland and Shauna O’Sullivan.
(L-R) Front Row: Mariosa Fearragher, Lydia Rodgers (Special Olympics Connaught), Shane McLoone, Emma Egan
A group of IT Sligo students collected more than €1,000 by hosting ‘Leaf’ Your Stamp on IT Sligo, a plant a tree charity event in aid of Special Olympics Connaught. The group asked students and staff to purchase a tree in the college canteen throughout the day. When a tree was purchased it was planted by the group on the IT Sligo Campus and all proceeds went directly to the charity. As the event coincided with National Tree Week the group were effectively creating awareness of the environment whilst raising much needed funds for a very worthy cause. All trees for the event were sponsored by Coillte Nurseries.
Founded in 1978, Special Olympics Ireland has grown significantly over the years and today has over 11,000 athletes participating in 15 sports in more than 440 Clubs throughout the island of Ireland. They are supported by a network of more than 18,000 volunteers, making Special Olympics one of the largest voluntary organisations in Ireland. Special Olympics Connaught provides year round sport training & competition for 1600 people with an intellectual disability in Galway, Leitrim, Longford, Mayo, Roscommon, Sligo and Westmeath.
The students organised this event as part of their Event Project Management module that is delivered on the Bachelor of Business in Marketing – Event Management and PR.
Other Events organised by the class were, “Rí Rá agus Ruaille Buaille”, “Cook It Up” and “The Human Hamster”. The proceeds raised will help Team Ireland compete at the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Athens. 126 athletes and 49 coaches will represent Ireland at the Games, which are the highest level of sporting competition for Special Olympics athletes in the World. The proceeds will also go to a sports programme for the 1600 athletes with intellectual disabilities.