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06th Oct 2020

Special Olympics Ireland needs your help to raise vital funds for Irish athletes

JOE

Special Olympics Ireland

Brought to you by Special Olympics Ireland, Can’t Stop Now

Special Olympics athletes have come so far, the only thing they can’t do is stop!

Special Olympics Ireland is calling on the people of Ireland to help raise €500,000 in vital funding for athletes all across Ireland.

Led by Hollywood hero Colin Farrell, the ‘Can’t Stop Now’ campaign urges Irish people to donate what they can to help raise vital funds for some 8,000 children and adults with an intellectual disability across the island of Ireland.

Having had to cancel its annual face to face cash collection day in April due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the new Special Olympics Ireland campaign is focussing on digital and text donations.

Now, for the very first time, the public can donate through the Revolut app.

Over the last number of months, Special Olympics Ireland has been working tirelessly to find creative ways to reach out to athletes to ensure they remain physically, mentally and emotionally fit during the pandemic, such as the ‘Together At Home’ programme.

Initiatives like ‘Together at Home’ have been helping athletes like eight-year-old Anna Kilmartin from Dublin (pictured above), who helped to launch the Can’t Stop Now campaign.

Despite being told there were many things she couldn’t do, Anna is thriving and can’t wait to get back to her friends and sports training at her club, once it’s safe to do so. Special Olympics Ireland needs your help to keep Anna and other athletes like her on that journey.

Funds raised through the Can’t Stop Now campaign will allow athletes throughout the country to get back to the pool, pitch and court. To meet their friends again. To learn new skills and gain confidence and show the world what they can do all over again.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CFujpkjKI65/

The only thing they can’t do is Stop!

Members of the public can donate to the Can’t Stop Now campaign in one of three ways:

  1. Texting Athlete to 50300 to donate €4 (a minimum of €3.26 will go to Special Olympics Ireland).
  2. Visiting specialolympics.ie to make a donation or organise a virtual fundraising event
  3. Donating through the Revolut app by following the instructions below:
  • Open your app
  • Tap your initials/image at the bottom right >> Widgets >> Donations
  • Select Special Olympics Ireland
  • Hit Donate

Commenting on the campaign, Colin Farrell said: “I am delighted to help launch this campaign for Special Olympics Ireland. Covid-19 has resulted in Special Olympics Ireland missing out on a significant part of its vital fundraising efforts, like so many other charities across the globe.

“It’s so important that we get the public on board to raise much needed funds for these inspirational children and adults, for whom, sports clubs are a social and health lifeline.”

Special Olympics athletes have come so far, many have overcome the things they were told they can’t do like make friends, swim, ride a bike, go to university, get a job, get a gold medal for their country and much more. The only thing they can’t do is Stop!

With your help, almost 8,000 children and adults with an intellectual disability across Ireland will get back to the pool, pitch and court. They will meet their friends, learn new skills and show the world, they what they can do again.

Visit www.cantstopnow.ie for ways to support.

Brought to you by Special Olympics Ireland, Can’t Stop Now