Rotary Club of Belfast

Making New Dreams a Reality

Group1The Club were delighted to welcome to the Club meeting Monday 30 October guest speakers Hon. Member Dame Mary Peters and Gillian Heatherington, Executive Manager, The Mary Peters Trust which supports financially, advisory and medically with sporting injuries talented young NI sportsmen and women, able-bodied and disabled, from all recognised sports. They are pictured here with member Ken Nixon.

Heather advised that, since its inception more than 40 years ago, it has made a staggering MPT1difference to the lives of thousands of young athletes. She noted that the Trust has 10 Directors including members Ken Nixon and PP Campbell Morton who has been involved with the Trust for 40 years. Their alumni already include many of NI’s greatest sports stars but to ensure that this story continues they need to help make new dreams a reality. Gillian highlighted their upcoming events (see below) and invited members to support them.

Dame Mary advised that she was given the challenge to raise £1m over the next 3 years by the Trust’s Patron Princess Anne and noted that the young athletes deserve our support, are our future and our Ambassadors. She noted that they are funded before Lottery funding is possible, attend workshops twice a year learning about how to market themselves, IT and receive other advice and skills.     

She noted fundraising events are held regularly - most recently a Table Tennis event where the world table tennis rally record was broken and £1,000 was raised at her talk last week at The Royal Belfast Golf Club. She also invited members to support any events.

DameMaryPeters2Answering questions she advised that she was most proud of the achievements of Patrick Houston, from Campbell College who is a three time World Champion Archer at Junior Level and participated at the Rio Olympics; noted that athletes need the Liasion Officers attached to every sport to endorse their application for funding and highlighted the new support from the Rory Foundation supported by Malcolm and Andy Crone to help injured athletes get instant assessment, quick treatment and a speedy return to training. She concluded that she had enjoyed her time as Her Majesty's Lord Lieutenant and had as her retirement gift had 10 oak trees planted at the Mary Peters Track. 

MPT3MPT2Fundraising Events include Sport Inspires Lunch (see right); Mary's Spin to a Million (see right), Black Canvas Gallery's Christmas 200 Exhibition - 22 November 2017 @ 6.00pm, Table Quiz - 20 February 2018 @ 7.30pm and 200 Club which runs throughout the year. More details from Mary Peters Trust: 028 90686730, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.., www.marypeterstrust.org.

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