Clubs interested in getting ‘Off the Booze & On the Ball’ are reminded that registration for this fun health challenge is ongoing and will remain open until February 1st.
The fundraising element remains an incentive for participating clubs, with individuals and/or teams and panels choosing to abstain from alcohol for a period of four weeks to kick start their New Year on a health footing. Everyone who registers receives an information pack with practical tips on how to implement a healthier lifestyle as well as a sponsorship card.
Traditionally focused on GAA clubs and members during the month of January, the Challenge, as it is also known, invites participants to abstain from alcohol for four weeks in order to give their New Year a healthy kick-start.
Driven by the GAA’s Alcohol and Substance Abuse Prevention (ASAP) programme, a partnership with the HSE, ‘The Challenge’ offers participants the opportunity to press pause following the hectic social calendar of the holiday season. For some clubs, The Challenge is also used as an opportunity to fundraise in a fun and healthy way – everyone who registers receives an information pack with practical tips on how to implement a healthier lifestyle as well as a sponsorship card.
“This is a novel way of addressing an issue that is of importance to every one of us – our health and wellbeing,” explains Uachtarán CLG, Liam O’Neill, who launched the 2014 Off the Booze & On the Ball challenge in Croke Park in November. “Engaging with your local GAA club is one of the best things you can do for your physical, mental, social, and emotional health. How we engage with alcohol has an impact on all of those aspects of our health. We are delighted to have this events as part of our annual calendar, and I hope our club members continue to take up the challenge as they have done over the past two years.”
The GAA will be promoting The Challenge through their Facebook and Twitter accounts and will be offering participants support and incentives throughout the campaign period.
Click here for more details and to register for ‘Off the Booze and On the Ball’.
Alternatively, email asap@gaa.ie should you need any information not available on our website.
By Majella Boyd Tue 7th Jan
