Media Release – 16 December 2011
On Wednesday 14 December 2011, Special Olympics ACT was presented with a generous donation from the NRMA.
Tony Commisso, representing the NRMA Association of Country Service Centres (ACSC), proudly presented two donations totalling $15,000 – one for $12,000 that was collected during the recent NRMA Country Conference, and one for $3,000 collected during the ACT NRMA Auto Basics training courses.
The ACSC represents the proprietors and staff of over 200 privately-owned NRMA offices in NSW and ACT. Each year, the ACSC raises funds for much needed charity work, and this year, the lucky recipient of their generosity is Special Olympics ACT. The donation was the result of fundraising activity that took place at the NRMA Country Conference in September this year.
“Each year, NRMA brings together over 200 agencies for our country conference and part of this includes our fundraising initiative. Our people made a huge effort this year and we’re proud to be supporting the Special Olympics,” said Peter Wheeler, President of the ACSC.
“We all run local businesses, and recognise the need to support local charities, and the ACSC is proud to support the great work of Special Olympics in our communities,” he continued.
Special Olympics is a worldwide movement that inspires people with an intellectual disability to reach their personal best through regular sport and competition. It is not a single event and it is not just for the elite. Instead Special Olympics volunteers provide sports opportunities for all people with an intellectual disability regardless of their skills, and they do this every week in communities right across Australia. Special Olympics ACT Region (SO ACT) provides year-round sports training and competition for children and adults with an intellectual disability.
”Our athletes train every week for these events, sometimes several times a week. It is terrific to see them travel to new places and achieve such wonderful results. We could not conduct our training, let alone travel to overseas events, without the support of fantastic community organisations such as the NRMA,” said Glenn Keys from SO ACT.
MEDIA BACKGROUNDER – Special Olympics ACT
• While some Special Olympics athletes strive to win medals, others enjoy the chance to get active, have fun, make friends and be part of a family.
• Whatever their motivation, SO ACT caters for them by providing meaningful sports programs delivered within a supportive environment where people with an intellectual disability are accepted and can feel proud.
• Through sport, SO ACT gives athletes the opportunity to get fit, develop skills, make friends and be part of a community.
• Sports currently offered are: Athletics, Basketball, Bocce, Cricket, Golf, Gymnastics, Sailing, Soccer, Swimming, Tennis and Tenpin Bowling.
• SO ACT has had a busy year with six athletes and the Australian Sailing Coach attending the Special Olympics International Games in Athens earlier this year, and coming home with gold, silver and bronze medals.
• SO ACT also sent a basketball and soccer team to the Inaugural Trans-Tasman Games in New Zealand in November 2011 winning gold in the basketball, and rounded off the year with a multi-sport carnival on 12 and 13 Nov 2011.