Champions of Fundraising - St. Aidan's CBS Dublin

Champions of Fundraising

St. Aidan’s CBS, Dublin, Ireland

The organisers of ESCCO 2014 are honoured to have St. Aidan’s CBS, Dublin as our ‘Champions of Fundraising’ for the inaugural European Schools Cross Country Open.

What these students, their parents, the coaches and teachers are doing to raise funds is inspirational.

We want to share their story, about the fundraising projects that these student leaders are doing to come to Gran Canaria in February 2014 to be part of something unique and special in athletics.

We will update this presentation over the coming days and weeks as Alan O’Neill, one of the visionary coaches behind the athletics teams in St. Aidan’s, lets us know of the developments of his squad of athletes in the lead up to the European Schools Cross Country Open in February.

We hope their story inspires many others as it is inspiring us.

St. Aidan’s CBS, Dublin, Ireland

Multi National Irish Schools CC Team Champions

Coaches - Alan O’Neill & Dave Hanley

Squad of 26 coming to ESCCO 2014

Their Fundraising Events

1. A Cake Sale in the school2. We have contacted some athletics alumni to see if they will support us3. We are organizing a Sports Day for all our 1st and 2nd Years. 4. Non-uniform day5. Some of the parents are organizing Coffee Mornings. 6. FIFA tournament - A number of large screens will be set up in the Hall7. Bag Packing in our local supermarket 8. Christmas Raffle with signed Dublin jerseys and Irish soccer jerseys9. A sponsored run - 26 of us going on the trip. 26 of us run 10.2 miles, 46 laps of the track in under 1hr 30mins = 10 marathons! No better way to bond all those travelling10. Instead of all our guys buying separate sports wear for Christmas, we are all going to meet for the Sales and buy the same kit. Pre-ordered Nike tracksuits. Will save a fortune!

Clonliffe Schools Cross Country Finals - Wednesday 9th of October 2013

St. Aidan’s CBS Team Placings● Minor Boys - 4th Team● Junior Boys - 2nd Team● Intermediate Boys - 1st Team● Senior Boys - 3rd Team

Winners of the Lar O’Byrne Trophy for overall winning school.

Champions of Fundraising - Updates


E-mail update from coach Alan O’Neill - (Monday 4th of November)

Hey Andrew,

Just back from a few miles with the crew. 53 guys out this evening in the dark and the craic was mighty. You will love meeting these guys!

This experience is binding the parents together, gelling the athletes together, and inspiring the kids in the school. One of my guys ran home after the Dublin CC yesterday to bake cakes! What a man! Everyone is a winner. Whatever you need us to do to promote the big event, just shout. It will just add another exciting dimension to the journey!

Yours in sport

Al

Hey Andrew,

Just off the Hill of Howth, banging out the miles. It's cold, it's dark, but it is stunning. It really is a great time of the year for training.

So the '10 Marathons'. I noticed that we have 26 on the trip. Then the golden distance came to mind. I thought could we as a team run 10 Marathons in a given time. So on December 28th, the team of 26 are going to run 46 laps in Santry Stadium in under 1hour 30mins. 10 marathons! Every kid in the school is being given a sponsorship card, and a talk on our journey/destination, and of the course the event. We had planned to do a sponsored walk, but we are runners! My guys can't walk! We will all wear the same kit, invite all the kids/parents, and go for Christmas lunch afterwards.

Our first fundraising event kicks off next Friday - the FIFA tournament. I will send on lots of pics and lots of info.

Keep her lit!

Al

E-mail update from Alan O’Neill - (Thursday 7th of November)
