In the Press.
Monkbar Manager's Athletic Feats Bowl Over Special Olympics Cause
Bowled Over By Charity Effort
Monkbar Hotel’s triathlete Neil Hudson with Gemma Broadhurst and Duncan Mace, the newest recruits to York’s Special Olympic team, whom he raised money for by competing in the Beverley Triathlon.
Picture by Malcolm Rouse
A York Hotel Manager’s athletic achievements in the name of charity has bowled over the local Special Olympics team he was raising funds for.
Neil Hudson, Conference Manager at the Best Western Monkbar Hotel, presented £400 to the Special Olympic City Of York team for their 2011 World Games campaign.
To raise the money, he took part in the Beverley Triathlon in August, which saw him endure the rigours of a 400m swim, 20km cycle and a 5km run, as well as intensive weekly training in the months leading up to the event.
Neil travelled to New Earswick Indoor Bowling Club to present the cheque to Gemma Broadhurst and Duncan Mace, the newest recruits for the Special Olympics team who will be part of the bowling team.
The pair will undertake 26 weeks of training in preparation for their debut.
Neil said: “I’ll admit, competing in the triathlon was certainly exacting, and involved a lot of sweat and self-discipline! But being here today to present the fruits of my labour - together with the value of supporting the team - makes it all worthwhile.
“The Special Olympic City Of York team is a great cause and I am delighted to support it. It’s important to help make sport accessible to as many people as possible, and the York team is eagerly gearing up for the Games in two years time.
“Hopefully the team can continue to raise the funds they need and provide our athletes with the best support possible. Maybe we will be seeing some of York’s top talent with medals around their necks in Greece in 2011.”
Paul Ramskill, City of York Council’s Community Leisure Officer, who arranged the presentation at New Earswick Indoor Bowls Centre, said: “We are thrilled by Neil’s support for us and extremely grateful for all the hard work he put into completing this grueling sporting challenge.
“The money Neil raised will go towards training the local team for the 2011 Games. Without people like Neil, we just wouldn’t be able to offer the training and coaching we can to people with learning disabilities.”
Preparations are already underway for the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games, which will see athletes from more than 180 countries compete in a range of events in Athens, Greece from June 25 to July 4.
The Special City of York Committee was set up in 2007 to provide a range of training and general support for local athletes with learning disabilities. They have been fundraising in an effort to improve local facilities so that local budding stars are able to develop their skills and compete at the World Games competition in 2011.