A good friend of Special Olympics Gibraltar, Mr Jelle Mars from Groningen, Belgium, has been raising funds for the charity “Special Child” through sponsorship by cycling approximately 3,000km from Groningen to Gibraltar. An exhausted but jubilant Jelle arrived in Gibraltar at lunchtime on Tuesday 28th July, accompanied by local cyclists led by former RGP officer Ian Howe, who accompanied Jelle on his final leg from Estepona into Gibraltar.
Jelle made friends with a lot of the Special Olympics Gibraltar football team in the Netherlands last year at the Special Olympics European Football Tournament. and several of the athletes were there to greet Jelle when he arrived. They greeted him at the border and then went with him to Europa Point for a photo shoot with the Atlas Mountians in the background. After which a small reception was held in the SOG Sports Complex at Europa to celebrate Jelle’s fantastic achievement.
Special Child is a children’s charity which encourages disabled children into sport and which in turn often leads to recruitment into the ranks of Special Olympics athletes. It provides the children with sports facilities and sportswear to stimulate them into trying a sport. It is currently collaborating with foundations in 5 regions worldwide to provide children with sporting opportunities. Jelle has already raised over EUR 1,600 in online donations and still rising (see https://www.whydonate.nl/donate/road-to-africa/nl )
