Aodhán Connolly (left), Patrick Davidson, Pauline Blair and Orla McCarron (in front)
Local man gets on his bike to change lives
Thursday, May 08, 2008
A local Holywood man has literally ‘got on his bike’ in a bid to change
young lives.
Aodhán Connolly, head of commercial development at the Prince’s Trust
Northern Ireland, along with four colleagues will be taking on the Capgemini
Wild UK Challenge from September, 5-7 2008.
The challenge consists of hill trekking and off road biking, and kayaking
across one hundred miles of Somerset and Devon over two and a half days. The
cha llenge finishes with a sea swim on the South Devon coast.
The money they raise will pay for five young people to take part in the
Prince’s Trust Northern Ireland’s Team programme; a 12-week personal
development programme that enables young people to develop confidence,
motivation and skills through teamwork in the community. The majority of
team participants are unemployed, and through completing this programme find
work or enter full time education or training.
During the challenge Aodhán and his team will not only have their physical
fitness put to the test, but will also face some mystery challenges along
the way that will stretch their mental determination.
Aodhán said that all the training, time and money is more than worth it.
“You can see the change in the young people from day one of The Prince's
Trust Team programme. It starts simply by them being asked their opinions
and then being listened too. This gives them much needed self worth, and
from there their confidence grows,” he said.
If you are interested in taking on your own team challenge for the Prince's
Trust, contact 028 9075 8119.
