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 Bank Holiday Monday (7th May).
The 5km sponsored walk, which will take place simultaneously in 20 locations across Ireland, will raise funds for local soccer clubs that take part.
Over 600 people from Clare’s 35 Schoolboys and Junior clubs 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).
Leeds United and Republic of Ireland soccer legend, 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.
Event co-ordinator and former Clare and District Soccer League Chairman, Jim Madden said: “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.”
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.
The 5km sponsored walk, which will take place simultaneously in 20 locations across Ireland, will raise funds for local soccer clubs that take part.
Over 600 people from Clare’s 35 Schoolboys and Junior clubs 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).
Leeds United and Republic of Ireland soccer legend, 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.
Event co-ordinator and former Clare and District Soccer League Chairman, Jim Madden said: “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.”
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.
