Nicole Hammond, Youth Development Officer at Autonomie SAIL (Social and Independent Living) pilot project is fundraising for Autonomie by taking up the challenge of running a leg of the Belfast City Marathon on Sunday 3 October.
As part of Team Autonomie’s Relay Team, Nicole along with her running mates (Hannah Glasgow, Peter Quinn, Stephen Cockcroft and Emma Cockcroft) are gearing up to take on the 26.2 mile challenge to raise funds for us - helping make a real difference to the lives of young people with additional needs and families in Northern Ireland.
In her latest blog, Nicole explains what has motivated her to take on the fundraising challenge, how important Autonomie’s work is and what she is looking to most about the event.
“I am running the Belfast Marathon on Sunday 3rd October to raise money for Autonomie to say a personal thank you for providing me with an opportunity to enhance my personal development and for the continuous support which I have received since I was a student at placement to my current role as Youth Development Officer.
“The support has been endless, and I have been provided with opportunities I would not have received elsewhere.
“The young people who I work with in SAIL and Freedom2Choose programme are amazing and are continuously developing their social and independent livingskills, achieving their full potential, and growing as individuals.
“But most of all they make going to work FUN and ENJOYABLE.
“As well as raising money for Autonomie, it will help raise awareness of the amazing services which they are providing.
“On Marathon Day hundreds of people will see me and my team members wearing our Autonomie logo with pride, and everyone who has sponsored us has learned more about the charity and the great work it does via our fundraising page.
“Training for the marathon has helped me get out and get active, it has given me the boost which I needed to start running and I will continue to run each week when the Marathon is completed.
“This is my opportunity to give something back and show Autonomie how much Iappreciate the help and support it has provided me.”
Good luck to Nicole and the team, we are all behind you and are super excited to cheer you on as you pound the streets on Sunday for Autonomie.
