Vital role of volunteers hailed at Aviva awards

JIM AUGHNEY, the man responsible for founding and developing the Dublin Marathon and Race Series, was one of 11 volunteers honoured for their outstanding contribution to sports at a ceremony at the Aviva Stadium yesterday.

Just over 2,000 people signed up when Dick Hooper won the first event back in 1980 but it has since grown five-fold into the multinational event we know today, one which generates millions of euro per year for the local economy.

Another recipient and example of the inordinately influential role one person can play on the national sporting scene was Gerry Fleming, the head coach of Neilstown Boxing Club whose involvement with the club started some 31 years ago. Among the boxers to benefit from Fleming’s influence is Olympic silver medallist Kenny Egan who paid rich tribute to his former mentor.