Three Central Coast athletes will be supported in their quest to compete at the Special Olympics Australia National Games in Launceston next month thanks to a $2,000 boost from Greater Bank’s #GreaterCentralCoast Community Funding Program.
Special Olympics Central Coast Club has received $2,000 after taking out the public vote in the program’s August round, which will go directly towards supporting the local athletes.
The club is part of the Special Olympics network which provides a range of sport, recreation, social and health opportunities for people with an intellectual disability to have fun, be healthy, build self-esteem, demonstrate courage, and make friends.
Club Vice Chair, Jennie Harrison, said the organisation relies heavily on community support.
“We currently have 52 athletes in the Central Coast club competing in tennis, ten pin bowling, basketball, golf, soccer, bocce, athletics and swimming,” she said.
“We are very proud and excited that three of them have qualified for the National Games in Launceston in October – one in tennis and two in tenpin bowling – with the ultimate goal of being selection for the Australian team to compete at the Special Olympics in Berlin next year.
“Each of the athletes needs to raise $4,000 to cover expenses, so this money from the #GreaterCentralCoast Community Funding Program will be split between them to reduce that financial burden.”
Harrison said the club would hold fundraising events such as raffles and community barbecues to help with the athletes’ expenses.
“This funding … makes a massive difference to our athletes and their families and takes the pressure off them to cover the entire cost of travelling to compete in the National Games,” she said.
Greater Bank’s Central Coast Regional Sales Manager, Josh Swetnam, said Special Olympics Central Coast Club provides terrific opportunities for local athletes.
“It’s extremely important for all people to have access to sports where they can compete at their own level,” he said.
“We’d like to wish the Central Coast athletes all the best for the National Games and good luck in the quest to qualify for next year’s Special Olympics.”
Also benefiting from the August round were runners-up, Toukley and District Art Society and 1st Ourimbah Scout Group, each receiving $500.
The nominees in the September round are Brooke Avenue Public School P & C Association, Point Clare Public School and Central Coast GangShow, with another $2,000 to go to the winner and $500 to each of the runners up.
Online voting in the September round of the #GreaterCentralCoast community funding program is now open and closes at 5pm on Wednesday, September 28, at www.greater.com.au/greatercentralcoast.
Source:
Media release, Sep 14
Greater Bank