Sanctuary Runners take Irish Sport Industry Award
The Sanctuary Runners, founded by Fermoy local Graham Clifford, were announced as the ‘Best Initiative to Promote Inclusivity in Sport and Physical Activity’ at the recent 2022 Irish Sport Industry Awards.
Using running to bring together refugees, asylum seekers and people from the wider community, The Sanctuary Runners is a solidarity- through- sport movement.
Mr Clifford said it is ‘amazing’ to see Sanctuary Runners announced the winner at the event held in Dublin on May 17. “This is just amazing – especially when you consider the wonderful organisations in this very important category. For us, sport is about so much more than just competition, it’s about helping us to build bridges across Irish society, to bring people together regardless of their nationality or legal status.
“Awards are important, they shine a spotlight on the work you do, and we’re just so grateful and thankful that in winning this particular award many people will be introduced to the Sanctuary Runners for the first time,” he said.
The annual awards, hosted by the Federation of Irish Sport in association with Clubforce, recognise the value that sport adds to the Irish economy from the sports industry perspective, in addition to celebrating the ongoing work done by national governing bodies and local sports partnerships to promote sport and physical activity nationwide.
NEW FERMOY GROUP
In recent weeks, work has gotten underway to set up a new group of the Sanctuary Runners in Fermoy.
“In recent weeks we’ve started a new group of the Sanctuary Runners in Fermoy - which is fitting because without the funding and support from Dr Tom Cavanagh, his family and the Tomar Trust in Fermoy, it would have been so hard to grow to this level.
“Two relay teams made up of Fermoy Sanctuary Runners will be taking part in the Cork City Marathon on June 5th as well as a wonderful Ukrainian man who moved to the town recently. Our hope is to grow The Sanctuary Runners in Fermoy and to welcome people from all different nationalities and backgrounds to the group in the coming months - as well as establishing in other towns too,” Mr Clifford added.