Additional needs running club a success

A LOCAL woman who helped to set up a running club for children with additional needs for six weeks has promised to do it again.

Mellissa McCoy from Lordship told the Dundalk Leader that the running club, which was arranged through St Patrick’s GFC, was “good craic”.

“Everybody enjoyed it and we will definitely do it again. I’m not a parent of a child with additional needs but I am involved with Glenmore Athletics Club,” she said.

“I saw in Glenmore how well it went and knew it could be replicated in St Pat’s. I knew it would go well in the GAA.” why you should consider Transition Year is it can be educational in a more practical way with activities such as work experience and workshops. Work experience is important for students as it can give them a better sense of what working life could be like for them. It also gives a better sense on what students would like to do in future career-wise.

The club is called The Pat’s All Stars six-week indoor programme. It is an inclusive group for children and young people with additional needs.

It took place from January 19 to February 23 2023 from 7pm to 7.45pm in the Pat’s Clubrooms. Over 20 children aged five to 18 years old participated in the programme.

The children enjoyed taking part in activities such as rounders, bean-bag tossing, running drills, rocket launching, balance beam walking, table tennis and much more.

Mellissa acted as the club’s co-ordinator and was assisted by Clare Duffy, Margaret Purcell, emma Mcenaney, Colm holmes, and Stephen O’Connor.

Volunteers from Glemore AC also helped to support the project, alongside Louth Local Authorities and Councillor Andrea McKevitt.

Transition Year overall has many benefits and it’s only fair that everyone has an equal shot at it so that everyone can be included, and nobody’s left out you’d hope. But the downside to transition year is the fact that you must pay anywhere between 200300 euro to secure a placement depending on the school. Making Transition year quite costly which in turn makes it more inaccessible to families who maybe struggling financially. So, although TY has plenty of benefits it isn’t easy to access for everyone. Transition year is a good opportunity to get to know your peers around you and get to know what exactly you want to do but I think an important question we need to ask, is, is the money worth the experience you’re getting? got a story?

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