Sport Northern Ireland receive Special Community Award for Activ8
At a recent ceremony, Citybeat radio announced the winners of its Citybeat Feel Good Awards which were nominated by Citybeat listeners and presented to individuals and groups; and Sport Northern Ireland’s Activ8 Programme came out tops.
The Lord Mayor of Belfast, Naomi Long, hosted the finalists, joined by special
guest Ulster and Ireland Rugby hero, David Humphries. Welcoming the guests, Citybeat Managing Director, Dorothy Nixon said: “We received a fantastic number
of nominations and judging was extremely difficult. We brought together three finalists in each category and it is a great opportunity for us celebrate with our listeners.”
The Sporting and Community theme was strong as Citybeat announced three
special awards, and Sport Northern Ireland received the Special Community Award for its Activ8 Programme. Activ8 promotes 8 fun steps for key stage two children
to get active and stay healthy, and is supported by all five Education and Library Boards. The Activ8 programme is now also available in Wildcats Activ8 Clubs which take place after school in local leisure and community centres.
Celebrating the Citybeat Feel Good Awards are special guest David Humphries with Baroness
May Blood (Lifetime Achievement), Brian McCargo of Sport Northern Ireland (Community Award for the Activ8 programme) and Terry Hooley (on behalf of Gary Lightbody, inducted into the Citybeat Hall of Fame) with Dorothy Nixon, Managing Director of Citybeat
Other Sporting awards included the Child of Achievement Award presented to 17yr old Conor Patton from Crumlin who underwent a life saving kidney transplant, donated by his father. Conor has since won four gold medals at the British Transplant Games and represented Great Britain and Northern Ireland at the World Transplant Games picking up another three gold medals in Australia and setting a new Junior World Transplant Games Record in the 100m. Conor and John are true ambassadors for organ donation and Conor is a true inspiration for so many people - from being such an ill young person to top of the world.
The Sport Award went to ‘The Newforge Taggers’ Tag Rugby Football Club. It is a Tag Ruby Club for those with learning disabilities run solely by volunteers and is presently the only club of its type in Ireland. The club was formed with the full support of the IRFU (Ulster Branch) who are still closely involved with the development of the club. Players come from across the community and are aged between six and 34 years.
Gary Lightbody sent a personal message of gratitude for his award as the inaugural member of the Citybeat Hall of Fame, and there was also a Lifetime Achievement Award for Baroness May Blood for her outstanding work in the community.
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