Johnson & Johnson launch programme of events for 2011.
Following the success of the association with Special Olympics Munster that has been running for the past six years Johnson & Johnson announced the programme of events for the 2011 Special Achievers Club at a reception held in their Vistakon facility in The National Technological Park, Limerick on Wednesday 13th. April 2011
Limerick City Mayor, Cllr. Maria Byrne, who officially launched the 2011 Association, congratulated the Special Achievers Club volunteers and the J&J family of companies on their fantastic efforts in support of Special Olympics and wished them well with their programme for the coming year. Other personalities in attendance included Brid Richardson – Limerick Rose 2010, Munster Rugby stars Tony Buckley and Damien Varley and Conor O’Mahony – All Ireland Winning Tipperary Hurler 2010.
The Special Achievers Club involves volunteers from five J&J companies in Munster, Cordis in Cashel, DePuy Ireland, Janssen Pharmaceutical and Janssen Biologics (Ireland) in Cork and Vistakon Ireland in Limerick. The Club was formed in 2005 to ensure that the spirit of the Special Olympics World Games, held here in 2003, was kept alive and this year will see over 400 volunteers organising and running six events in sports such as Gymnastics, Basketball, Bocce, Football, Athletics and Swimming for nearly 800 athletes.
Representing the J&J family of companies; Barry O’Sullivan thanked the Special Achievers Club volunteers for their commitment and congratulated the athletes on their determination and undoubted ability to excel
Speaking at the launch, local athlete, Emma Brett from the Bruff Special Olympics Club, said. “On behalf of my fellow athletes, I would like to wholeheartedly thank the Special Achievers Club volunteers for their enthusiastic support of our activities during the past six years. We are really excited about the upcoming programme of events for 2011, and it is great to know that we have over 400 volunteers side by side with us as we put our hearts and souls into these events. Special Olympics has opened up a whole new world for me and my fellow athletes and helped us develop talents we never knew we had.”
This year’s programme of events will see the J&J Special Achievers Club volunteers involved in organising events in the sports of Gymnastics, Basketball, Bocce, Football, Athletics and Aquatics which will cater for over 800 athletes.