#proud #SR16 #Belfast

BBC Northern Ireland personalities Barra Best and Lynette Fay and Miss Northern Ireland, Leanne McDowell, are getting behind the 2016 Belfast Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Games.  They’re calling for people to sign up to run, walk, swim or cycle themselves proud.

No sporting talent? No problem!  It’s all about getting active in a good cause and everyone’s welcome to join in the Belfast’s official Flagship Games on Sunday 20 March.

Whether you’re eight or eighty; a committed athlete or usually more of a couch potato, you can choose your own pace to raise cash and change lives.

Belfast is one of just six cities across the UK chosen to host a 2016 Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Flagship Games and the main Event Village will be at Custom House Square, with activities and festival vibe from 9am through to 1pm.  That’s the starting point for the Belfast Mile which loops around the city centre … tackle just one mile at a walk, jog or run … or go for three or six miles: the choice is up to you! Join host Pete Snodden and warm up with Better Gyms and Fitness Freddie, get on down with the Queen’s Elite Dance Team and enjoy the music and craic!

Queen’s Sport PEC will be the venue for the Swim challenge, with the option to Swim alone or as part of a team over 1.5k, 2.5k or 5k. It’s also the starting point for the Family Cycle which finishes at the Event Village.

Calling on people to get up and get into the spirit of Sport Relief on Sunday 20 March, Barra Best said, “This is fun fundraising and, whatever your level of fitness or ability, there’s an opportunity to have a go, have a laugh and, most important of all, raise money that will help to transform people’s lives.”

Having challenged Barra to go head to head with her in the Mile, Lynette Fay added, “It’s all for a good cause after all. Half of all the money raised by the public for Sport Relief is used to make a difference here at home. The other half is used to transform lives across the world’s poorest communities. What’s not to love?  Get together with friends and family and make this a day to remember!”

Backing the call for sign ups, Eamonn Donaghy, Fund Development Manager at the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland, said: “The Community Foundation is delighted to be distributing grants in Northern Ireland on behalf of Sport Relief. We have seen first-hand how these grants can make an amazing difference in communities throughout Northern Ireland, including in disadvantaged or rural areas with poor facilities. We would encourage people to support the Belfast Sport Relief Games in March so that along with Sport Relief, the Community Foundation can help make life that bit better for even more people here.”

To sign up for a Belfast Games event and walk, run, swim or cycle yourself proud, visit www.sportrelief.com/belfast where you’ll find tips and inspiration for fundraising. Registration for either the Belfast Mile or Family Cycle costs: Adults £11, Child £5 and Family £27 (2 adults & 2 children). Registration for the Swim costs £12 for Adults, Concessions* £9.