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Monaghan GAA launches 'Off the Booze and On the Ball' health challenge

January 6th, 2012

Press Release

12.12.11

Monaghan GAA launches ‘Off the Booze and On the Ball’ health challenge


GAA clubs in Monaghan were challenged to get ‘Off the Booze and On the Ball’ at the County Convention in the Hillgrove Hotel last week.

‘Off the Booze and On the Ball’ is a health initiative with a twist and it challenges members of the Association to abstain from alcohol for the month of January 2012 and in doing so seek sponsorship to go towards their local GAA club or team. Participants are also encouraged to engage in some exercises that help them reach their recommended weekly activity levels during the month, and hopefully throughout 2012.

The challenge was extended personally by Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael, Criostóir Ó Cuana, who launched the event with Minister of State at the Department of Health, Róisín Shortall in Croke Park on November 22. The initiative is being driven by the Association’s Alcohol and Substance Abuse Prevention (ASAP) Programme – a joint initiative with the HSE that aims to reduce the harm caused by the misuse of alcohol and other substances.

National Coordinator of the ASAP programme, Colin Regan, and the Monaghan County ASAP Officer, Cathal Hand, launched the initiative at the convention with the support of the Monaghan County Chairman Paul Curran and Monaghan footballer Conor McManus.

Individuals or club panels can sign up for the ‘Pint Sized Challenge’ at www.gaa.ie/asap where they will receive a sponsorship card and an information pack containing details on health, exercise and diet. All participating clubs will be in with a chance of winning a training session with one of Ireland’s leading high performance coaches or one of the country’s leading sports nutritionists in 2012. Clubs are also encouraged to run a health-related event on the last weekend of January to celebrate and promote the club in their local community.

If a panel of 30 players takes on the challenge and raises €100 each that’s €3,000 for the team at the end of January, not to mention the health benefits they will have accrued,” Colin Regan said at the launch. “The information pack you get is a great source of material regardless of your current activity level and will help us get the ASAP message out to our members,” he concluded.

Off the Booze & On the Ball, which is endorsed and supported by the GPA, fully supports the Ulster Council’s ‘Live to Play’ programme and participants are encouraged to make themselves available as a designated driver for friends or family during their month of abstinence.

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