Special Olympics has received an additional boost on the back of 2,600 learning disability athletes taking part in its most successful National Games in Sheffield recently, with Lions Clubs International renewing their support.

By Chris Hull

For over 25 years, Lions Clubs International has proudly supported Special Olympics GB by giving donations, fundraising for athletes selected for international competitions and providing volunteers to help run key events. In that time over £600,000 has been raised for the charity, in addition to the countless human hours of support in volunteering at Special Olympics events.

The two organisations have agreed to renew their partnership for the next three years on the key areas of volunteer workforce development, supporting Special Olympics clubs at local level and establishing a development fund for local clubs to apply for grants to support Special Olympics GB regionally and for the National Games.

Service

Founded in 1917, Lions Clubs International is the largest voluntary service club organisation in the world. The organisation’s motto  is ‘We serve’ and its ethos is to help meet the needs of local and international communities through the activities of over 46,000 local clubs and more than 1.4 million members around the globe.

CEO of Special Olympics GB, Karen Wallin, said: “To receive this support from Lions Phil Nathan of Lions Clubs of the British Isles, said: “Lions Clubs International was privileged to have been the primary organisation to work in partnership with Special Olympics to enable the ‘Opening Eyes Programme’ at the turn of the century, which is still being provided today. Our Lions Clubs proudly support Special Olympics in many communities of the UK and worldwide and look forward to supporting a strong and relevant relationship,” adding “As a board member of Special Olympics GB, I am delighted that this relationship between our organisations, goes from strength-tostrength”.

More: www.specialolympicsgb.org.uk

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