Leeds United and Republic of Ireland soccer legend, John Giles was in County Clare this week to announce details of a fundraising event for local clubs, schools and community groups next month.
Hundreds of people from throughout the County will participate in the John Giles Foundation Walk of Dreams, which will begin and finish at the Lees Road Sports and Amenity Park in Ennis on 7th May. The 5km sponsored walk will take place simultaneously in 20 locations across Ireland, including Limerick City and Galway.
As well as raising funds for the Foundation, the walk also will raise funds for soccer clubs which take part.
Half of all the money raised will go directly to the fundraising clubs and organisations, while the remaining funds will be subject to a grant application process with money being distributed to sporting and community projects that achieve the aims of the Foundation.
Over 600 people participated in the inaugural Clare Walk of Dreams at Lees Road in 2011 resulting in thousands of Euro being raised for local clubs, schools and community groups. A further three Clare soccer clubs benefited from the funding application process, namely Mountshannon Celtic (€300), Shannon Town (€1,000) and Tulla FC (€5,000).
John Giles said the purpose of the upcoming fundraiser is to facilitate positive social change by using the power of football to build community cohesion, promote health, and encourage lifelong participation and learning.
Speaking at Lees Road, the RTE soccer pundit stated: “I grew up, like many of us did, playing on the street. We were just having fun and had never heard of professional football. I never dreamt of where it would take me, or realised what a difference the sport was making to our community. Today it’s a different story, with different rules, and now more than ever people at risk need our support.”
Event co-ordinator and former Clare and District Soccer League Chairman, Jim Madden said he was confident that this year’s Walk would attract even greater numbers of people than the inaugural event in 2011.
“Over 600 people from Clare’s 35 Schoolboys and Junior clubs came out to support last year’s walk. In fact, the family day out was one of the best attended of all the Walk of Dreams events taking place throughout Ireland. We were also grateful to the support of the Gardai, Fire Service, Civil Defence and Ennis Brass Band who helped to make the 2011 Walk of Dreams a huge success.”
Mr. Madden noted that the 2012 walk would once again raise funds for club and community soccer projects throughout Clare. “The aim of the Walk is to help raise funds to develop the facilities and services that soccer clubs can offer their community as well as contributing to other important local initiatives. Clubs, schools and community groups that sign up to the ‘Walk of Dreams’ will receive a fundraising pack with 50 per cent of all monies raised going to the local club and 50 per cent to the John Giles Foundation to be reinvested in the local community.”
Commenting ahead of the May 7th walk, Tim Forde of Lees Road Sports and Amenity Park said: “We are delighted to be able to support this event, especially considering the funds raised will be going back into the grassroots of club football and community projects involving the game.”
“The Walk of Dreams will take place over a 5-kilometre route that will begin and finish at Lees Road. Many of those participating in the walk will already be very familiar with the complex as Lees Road hosts over 300 competitive soccer games each year, not to mention the hundreds of people who use our facilities to train each week,” added Mr. Forde.
Applications for 2012 funding will be open from Monday 2nd July to Friday 31st August. The Foundation's website, including details of the Walk of Dreams at the Lees Road Sports and Amenity Park in Ennis, can be accessed via www.johngilesfoundation.com.
Hundreds of people from throughout the County will participate in the John Giles Foundation Walk of Dreams, which will begin and finish at the Lees Road Sports and Amenity Park in Ennis on 7th May. The 5km sponsored walk will take place simultaneously in 20 locations across Ireland, including Limerick City and Galway.
As well as raising funds for the Foundation, the walk also will raise funds for soccer clubs which take part.
Half of all the money raised will go directly to the fundraising clubs and organisations, while the remaining funds will be subject to a grant application process with money being distributed to sporting and community projects that achieve the aims of the Foundation.
Over 600 people participated in the inaugural Clare Walk of Dreams at Lees Road in 2011 resulting in thousands of Euro being raised for local clubs, schools and community groups. A further three Clare soccer clubs benefited from the funding application process, namely Mountshannon Celtic (€300), Shannon Town (€1,000) and Tulla FC (€5,000).
John Giles said the purpose of the upcoming fundraiser is to facilitate positive social change by using the power of football to build community cohesion, promote health, and encourage lifelong participation and learning.
Speaking at Lees Road, the RTE soccer pundit stated: “I grew up, like many of us did, playing on the street. We were just having fun and had never heard of professional football. I never dreamt of where it would take me, or realised what a difference the sport was making to our community. Today it’s a different story, with different rules, and now more than ever people at risk need our support.”
Event co-ordinator and former Clare and District Soccer League Chairman, Jim Madden said he was confident that this year’s Walk would attract even greater numbers of people than the inaugural event in 2011.
“Over 600 people from Clare’s 35 Schoolboys and Junior clubs came out to support last year’s walk. In fact, the family day out was one of the best attended of all the Walk of Dreams events taking place throughout Ireland. We were also grateful to the support of the Gardai, Fire Service, Civil Defence and Ennis Brass Band who helped to make the 2011 Walk of Dreams a huge success.”
Mr. Madden noted that the 2012 walk would once again raise funds for club and community soccer projects throughout Clare. “The aim of the Walk is to help raise funds to develop the facilities and services that soccer clubs can offer their community as well as contributing to other important local initiatives. Clubs, schools and community groups that sign up to the ‘Walk of Dreams’ will receive a fundraising pack with 50 per cent of all monies raised going to the local club and 50 per cent to the John Giles Foundation to be reinvested in the local community.”
Commenting ahead of the May 7th walk, Tim Forde of Lees Road Sports and Amenity Park said: “We are delighted to be able to support this event, especially considering the funds raised will be going back into the grassroots of club football and community projects involving the game.”
“The Walk of Dreams will take place over a 5-kilometre route that will begin and finish at Lees Road. Many of those participating in the walk will already be very familiar with the complex as Lees Road hosts over 300 competitive soccer games each year, not to mention the hundreds of people who use our facilities to train each week,” added Mr. Forde.
Applications for 2012 funding will be open from Monday 2nd July to Friday 31st August. The Foundation's website, including details of the Walk of Dreams at the Lees Road Sports and Amenity Park in Ennis, can be accessed via www.johngilesfoundation.com.
