With sports competition and regular training schedules cancelled for the past number of weeks, we have seen some amazing initiatives to keep people motivated and raise money for great causes. Lisa Kelly of St. Vincent's Water Polo was due to be participating in the Irish Senior Cup at the weekend, but has found herself out of a busy training routine and with time that she wanted to put to good use.
Using her pent up energy, Lisa and the Kelly family decided to put their energy into something productive and give back to the HSE Heroes at The Mater Hospital. They built an outdoor bar that is being raffled off to all that donate to the GoFundMe page. One lucky winner will be randomly selected and have the bespoke bar to add to their garden.
This initiative has raised over €1.1k in just 3 days. If you would like to support the HSE Heroes and get in with the chance to win this bar go to the GoFundMe page here.
""While isolating at home the family and I decided that we wanted to give back to the AMAZING heroes that are working everyday fighting against COVID-19. We decided with the weather picking up and the bars currently closed that we would build an outdoor bar for someone to enjoy in their back garden.
We're giving you the chance to win this bar! And at the same time you can help some of our front line staff members at the Mater Hospital by joining in and showing your support for everything they do for us. To be in with a chance to win this bespoke, one of a kind bar, we ask for a minimum €5 donation but you can donate as much as you can afford. *Remember the more times you donate the better chances you have of winning! Winners will be chosen at random by an online generating system."
Lisa Kelly plays with St. Vincent's Water Polo and as mentioned, were due to play in the Irish Senior Cup this weekend. St. Vincent's are currently the Cup Champions, having won for the past 9 years and had the goal of retaining their title to win for the 10th year in a row - prestigious! Kelly was MVP in the Cup last year and is disappointed, as are many other athletes, that the event has been cancelled during this time.
The team had been working hard with the Irish Senior Cup in sight, training in the gym and pool, 5 - 6 times a week. With training having finished early March, the athletes are getting used to the new normal, adapting their training as restrictions are in place during lockdown.
"We have reached our goal of €1000 and now we would really love to raise €2000 to help the frontline workers. The money will go to the Mater Foundation who have already been contacted and the main point is to raise as much money as we can to support them."
Athletes are really finding a drastic change from life before and during the Covid-19 pandemic. If you need inspiration, motivation and to feel we're all in this together read more on training in isolation here.
