Special Olympics Cayman Islands launches 2019 World Games fundraising

Nick Freeland, Special Olympics Cayman Islands Director and Chairman of the 2019 Special Olympics World Summer Games fundraising Committee accepts cheque from Richard Johnson, Hash House Harriers.

Special Olympics Cayman Islands sets it sights on the 2019 World Games with a focus on fundraising.

In March of next year approximately 30 SOCI athletes, and 15 coaches will head to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates to compete in the 2019 Special Olympics World Summer Games. The Games are expected to draw 7,000 Special Olympics athletes from 175 different countries – the world’s largest humanitarian and sporting event of 2019.

“Our athletes have always excelled at these games and I know they will make us all very proud in 2019.  It really will be a life-changing experience for them,” said SOCI’s Fundraising Director and past Chair Nick Freeland.

He also pointed out that SOCI plans to send a big delegation to Abu Dhabi which has challenges in terms of both logistics and expense. “We need to raise CI$250,000 over the next year to be able to meet this expense.”

The fundraising kicked off this year with a $1,500 donation from the Hash House Harriers. Richard Johnson recently presented a cheque on behalf of the club, showing their ongoing commitment to SOCI.

“As an amateur society, the club traditionally donates the profits from our Cross Island Relay to Special Olympics Cayman Islands in support of their ongoing programmes which help their athletes to lead more fulfilling and self-sufficient lives through participation in sports and competition,” Johnson said.

Nick Freeland expressed his gratitude to the Hash House Harriers for leading the effort noting, “We really need very broad support from the entire community.”

It is a big year for Special Olympics, which celebrates serving Cayman for 30 years, and Special Olympics International’s 50th Anniversary. If you would like to support the cause, please contact SOCI@candw.ky or Nick directly jinfreeland@gmail.com.

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