Hidden Hearing is once again calling on people across Ireland to nominate their Sporting Heroes for 2016. The Heroes will be announced at a national awards ceremony hosted by broadcaster Mary Kennedy in Dublin on Monday 5th September. Nominations close on 5th August. www.hiddenhearing.ie/heroes
Now in their sixth year, the Hidden Hearing Heroes Awards recognise the achievements of people, young and old, who have made a significant contribution to Irish society, in their community, workplace, family or through sporting excellence. The Sporting Hero is always a popular category we are calling on people all over Ireland to nominate someone they feel has overcome serious physical challenges and adversity to excel in sport.
Last year’s Sporting Hero was Cillian Dunne from Tipperary who was born with spina bifida and hydrocephalus which means he has to use a wheelchair due to paralysis of his lower limbs. Cillian said “I was really honoured to be awarded a Hidden Hearing Award last year, My real passion in life is sport. I have been taking part in sports with the Irish Wheelchair Association since I was five. This year the World Games were held in Prague and I was delighted to win silver in the 200m and 400m and bronze in the 100m. I continue to train 6 days a week both in the gym and on the road and have never allowed my disability to hold me back. My dream is to represent Ireland at the Paralympics in Tokyo 2020 and I’m working hard to get there”.
The Hidden Hearing Heroes Awards were first established in 2011 and have grown in size significantly since its first year. The nominations for Hidden Heroes 2016 are expected to surpass all other years.
This year’s Hidden Heroes will be recognised across 10 categories.
The winners of each category will be announced at the Hidden Hearing Heroes Awards ceremony in the Doubletree Hilton on Tuesday 5th September 2016. The nominations are now open and will remain open until 5th August 2016.
Launching this year’s Call for Nominations, Activist and campaigner, Joanne O’Riordan said:
“I am truly honoured to join some of the amazing heroes from last year to launch this year’s Hidden Heroes campaign for Hidden Hearing. Hidden Heroes celebrates people throughout Ireland who have triumphed over adversity in their lives. I strongly believe that it’s not the disability, it’s the ability of the person, that’s what matters. No Limbs, No Limits is my motto and you can do anything you want if you just believe in yourself. We all face obstacles in our lives, it’s only a matter of overcoming them. Each and every day I live by the motto of what I fail at today I will overcome and conquer tomorrow.”
People throughout the country can nominate a Hero online now at www.hiddenhearing.ie/heroes, in Hidden Hearing branches nationwide or by sending the details of the nominee to Hidden Hearing Ltd., Hidden Heroes Awards, 3030 Lake Drive, Citywest Business Campus, Freepost F1570, Dublin 24. Freephone: 1800 818 808
All entries must include the name and contact details of the nominee as well as the nominator and outline in no more than 500 words why the nominee is deserving of becoming one of Ireland’s Hidden Heroes.