Abbotstown Stars Special Olympics Club is awarded €500 in Gala Gifts for Clubs Initiative

The Abbotstown Special Olympics Club has been awarded €500 from Gala Retail as part of the Gala Gifts for Clubs initiative.

Gala Retail, a platinum sponsor of Special Olympics Ireland, set up the Gala Gifts for Clubs initiative as a way to recognise and reward the great work of Special Olympics Clubs across the country.

Special Olympics Clubs are led by volunteers who give an invaluable contribution of their time and skills to aid in the coaching, delivery of services and support of Special Olympics Ireland athletes.

Established in 2018, the Abbotstown Special Olympics Club had been open less than 18 months when the Club had to cease operations due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Upon reopening, the Club has worked hard to recruit a new committee and volunteers, as well as identifying a new location for training.

The Club’s commitment paid off and just after Easter this year, the Club reopened for it’s first training session, welcoming back it’s athletes with open arms.

Since then, the Club has gone from strength to strength, both athletes and volunteers have been overjoyed at the opportunity to get back to weekly training and spending time with other Club members.

Speaking about the Gala Gifts for Clubs initiative, Tony Cluskey, Marketing & Ambient Trading Manager at Gala Retail, said:

“Through Gala’s ongoing partnership with Special Olympics, we have constantly been impressed with the level of commitment and effort from the athletes, volunteers and coaches from each Special Olympics Club across the country.

“Gala ‘Gifts for Clubs’ aims to recognise the work that Clubs are doing to connect with and support its athletes and volunteers.

“The Abbotstown Stars Club has done great work in getting the club back up and running post-pandemic, providing the opportunity for athletes and volunteers to train again in person and enjoy themselves! Gala is thrilled to be able to award them one of the Gala Gifts for Clubs as a token of our admiration for the work they are doing.”

Michelle Manning, Chairperson of the Abbotstown Stars Special Olympics Club added:

“We were delighted to be chosen to receive the Gala Retail Gifts for Clubs cash prize and we hope to be able to invest the money in some equipment for the club, as well as coaching training for our members… So if anyone is interested in becoming a qualified Athletics Coach, come join the Abbotstown Stars and we will help!”

Gala Retail has been a platinum partner of Special Olympics Ireland since 2015 and has teamed up with the organisation to award cash prizes to Clubs across Ireland in the Gala Gifts for Clubs initiatives which seeks to shine a spotlight on the amazing work and dedication of Special Olympics Ireland clubs across the country