Six GMIT students who are not actively involved in sport or daily exercise have signed up to take part in Lough Cutra Castle Triathlon in May as part of a major campaign to boost student’s mental health and wellbeing through sport.
The campaign was launched in GMIT on Monday 6 February 2017 by the Galway Triathlon Club, two GMIT student societies (Culture and Wellbeing Society and the Mental Health Society), the GMIT School of Science & Computing, the GMIT Centre for Creative Arts & Media, Kingfisher Club (Renmore) and The Hurt Locker.
The six students are Wesley Williams from Co Monaghan who is studying Contemporary Art, Irene Naughton from Galway city who is studying a BA in Design, Adam Curry from Tuam who is studying Computing & Digital Media, Rachael Maloney from Creggs, Co Galway, who is studying Sport & Exercise Science, Mark O’Brien, Vice President of GMIT Students Union and culinary arts graduate, and Niamh Jones who is studying Contemporary Art.
Our six students have no experience of racing, training or competing in a triathlon and have been leading unhealthy lifestyles and routines, having put other priorities first in the past few years. But now they want to regain fitness, good physical and mental health and overall wellbeing and be an example to their fellow students and friends.
They will be getting the best advice, support and training plans from professional coaches in the Galway Triathlon Club, the Kingfisher (Renmore), the Hurt Locker and from our own academic staff here in GMIT’s School of Science & Computing and the Centre for Creative Arts & Media.
The GMIT academic staff supporting the students, some as coaches, mentors and training co-ordinators, are Dr Debbie Corcoran, lecturer in Medical Science who is also a member of the Executive Committee of Galway Triathlon Club, Robert Mooney, lecture in Sport & Exercise Science, Dr Luca Mirimin, lecturer in Marine Science, Dr Lisa Ryan, Head of Natural Science Dept and Sport & Exercise Science, Jim Vaughan, lecturer in the Centre for Creative Arts & Media, and Lynne O’Loughlin who has been competing in triathlons for many years.
Dr Debbie Corcoran, says: “As a staff member and member of Galway Triathlon Committee I am delighted to be involved in this campaign. Exercise is a huge part of my life and to be able to offer my support and advice to our six students in training is very gratifying. There are so many benefits to physical exercise, not only having a fit and healthy body, but also a fit and health mind”.
A documentary will be filmed on their journey and the students will be asked to make some video diaries of their own experience. Along with this a social media campaign will be launched to influence others to make similar changes in their lives. We have had great support from clubs, coach’s and film makers who are giving up their time and effort which is amazing but now as part of this we need funding and some equipment for the students to use in completing this challenge. We are looking for anything from road bikes to cycling gear to runners, swim googles etc. Any support given would be well documented on social media and in the documentary.
So if you feel this is something that you would like to support we would be very grateful. We are hoping to use this initiative as a template to introduce to schools and 3rd level colleges to showcase how physical wellbeing can have a positive effect on your mental health and overall wellbeing.
To get in touch feel free to contact me via lynne.oloughlin@gmit.ie or for more information check out our Facebook page
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