Irish Wheelchair Rugby Team needs your help!
As they prepare to represent Ireland at the European Championships in Italy this month, the Irish Wheelchair Rugby Team is actively seeking sponsorship for the tournament.
Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA) Sport is trying to raise €18,500 in total for the team, which includes three Cork players, to help cover the costs of flights and transport to and from venues, as well as accommodation and entry fees. Any funds received will help lower the cost of the athlete contribution and what they have to pay in order to travel and compete with the team.
Eight players and four staff will travel, among them Alan Dineen from Togher who spoke of their hopes of gaining promotion by finishing in the top two of the C Division. “The momentum is building. We are training very hard and looking forward to the competition. We have been preparing for the past six months,” he said. “It is as huge honour to wear the Irish jersey and represent your country at the highest levels.”
Alan, who plays his club rugby with Rebel Wheelers in Cork, comes to the team with a wealth of experience having represented Ireland at international level since 2011.
“It is quite a new team, we have three or four experienced players but the rest are all new to the team," he said.
The team includes his fellow Rebel Wheelers players including John McCarthy from Dunmanway and Jade Flynn Hurley from Killeens. They will be accompanied by Head Coach Alan Lynch, Team Manager Lynn Cromie and support staff Teresa Dineen, Chairperson of Irish Wheelchair Rugby who is from Togher.
People often dream about playing for their country and athletes with disabilities deserve the same level of support as all other athletes in their quest for success, say the IWA. “There are people who acquire a disability who may think their life is over and then they find sport,” said Alan.
“It opens up so many exciting opportunities and endless possibilities.” Ireland's first game is against Austria on 21 September.
If you would like to sponsor the team please get in touch or if you’d like to make a donation you can do so at iwa.enthuse.com.