Saturday floorball fundraiser in Mallow

FORMER Cork hurling great Seán Óg Ó hAilpin will be the guest of honour at the charity floorball competition taking place on Saturday at the Mallow Youth Centre.

Hosted by Munster Labels, the event is aiming to raise more than €30,000, which will divide up between Munster Special Olympics and Cliona’s foundation.

An indoor team sport floorball is played in a rink by teams comprised on five players and goalkeeper using a plastic stick and a light ball and is similar in style to Ice hockey – but with out the ice.

Popular in the US and on the continent, it is also one of the latest sports to be added to the Special Olympics programme.

Geraldine Buckley of Munster Labels, who is also a co-ordinator with Special Olympics Ireland, said the two charities that will benefit from the fundraiser provide much needed support to families and individuals within the local community.

“There were some great achievements by Irish athletes in the recent Special Olympics Summer Games in Abu Dhabi, with many of these coming from the Munster region. Now we are beginning preparations for the next big event and as Munster Olympics runs on fundraising events and donations, support for events such as this are vitally important,” said Geraldine.

Pat Whelan of Munster Labels explained that Cliona’s Foundation was set up by Brendan and Terry Ring following the death of their 16-year-old daughter Cliona in 2006 from and inoperable brain tumour.

He said Brendan and Terry saw at first hand the enormous toll these expenses had on families who were already struggling to cope with the nightmare of having a seriously ill child and decided to set up the Foundation in honour of their daughter.

“The Foundation provides financial assistance to the families of children with life-limiting or chronic complex care needs to help with non-medical expenses. It too relies on fundraising and donations to continue its fantastic work,” said Pat.

“These two charities are very dear to Munster labels as they both have a personal story to, so we would appreciate any support that people can give us for this fundraising event.”

The competition will run from 10am to 5pm and spectators are welcome to come along and enjoy the action.