Trisha Griffith

Special Olympics star. Registered as volunteer/coach 2002 to support local athlete for 2003 World Games, Fris at his house to pack, pick up 6.30am Sats, 3 hr drive to training. Volunteer on Host Town project 2003 seeing to athletes' every need, even doing laundry at 2.30 am! Introduced athletics locally as SO sport, main coach, assisting in running 1st Area Games in Enniskillen 2005. Driving force in establishing Lakeland SO club. Club competed in its 1st Ireland Games in Belfast 2006, Trisha there as coach & volunteer. Continues to serve as club Chair, volunteer & coach. Under her fantastic tutelage my little girl who has Down Syndrome, competed in her 1st Area games in 2008, qualifying for Ulster games and from there Ireland games, Limerick 2010. Incredibly daunting seeing my 10 yr old off on 5 hr bus trip for 5 day stay, but thanks to Trisha it was the most incredible, happiest experience of our lives; I cried when my little star won Ireland gold; Trisha cried too! Not just a fabulous coach, she was a 2nd mum to Laura; she cared for Laura 24/7 and went beyond the coaching to ensure all, us as a family too, had an amazing experience and a good time. And she's still driving forward, getting a club base set up, bringing new athletes and new sports on board, sharing her love of sport with others, valuing everyone. There every Sat in all weathers for football, mid-week for Athletics, at every meeting, every games, all on her own time, all with a smile on her face!