Special Olympics club appeals for funding to travel to competition in Norway

An appeal has been launched by members of the Owenabue Special Olympics Sports Club in Carrigaline, calling on the people of Cork to help fund their travel to the International Friendship Gymnastics competition in Norway.

The competition, taking place in Kjennhallen Sports Complex in Oslo, will see a team of 28 athletes from the club, aged 16-31, compete on an international stage against 12 other countries, in artistic and rhythmic gymnastics.

The athletes will be accompanied by 10 volunteer coaches, and are seeking help from the public to fund their travel, alongside the cost of entry fees, gear, accommodation, and food.

The group will travel from Dublin to Oslo on October 31, and then will return to Ireland on November 4.

An iDonate page has been set up to help raise the required funding needed to meet their costs over the five-day trip.

A target of €23,000 has been set, with the online donations page standing at €3,440 at the time of publication. An additional €1,600 has also been raised for the team from other fundraising events.

“It’s going to be a really good experience for the athletes, they’ll get to meet other athletes from all around the world and have a bit of fun,” volunteer coach Sinead O’Mahony told The Echo.

“The majority of our athletes have Down syndrome and autism, and all of them have been involved in Special Olympics for all their lives.

“It’s a huge achievement for them, to get to compete for their country, in a sport that they love, and to show off their independence and how amazing they are.

“The trip has already been paid for, but we’re trying to earn the money back because it all comes at a cost.”

In return for the generosity shown to the group, the athletes and other club members have pledged to cartwheel, walk or run, as a combined total, the 1,501km distance from Carrigaline to Kjennhallen.

To donate to the fundraiser, visit www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/CartwheelCork2Oslo