Who are we?
Kevin Lynch Hurling Club is a long-standing and community-driven sports club based in Dungiven, dedicated to promoting health, fitness, and community engagement. Founded in 1966, we have always been at the heart of local life, offering opportunities for people of all ages to participate in hurling, fitness, and social events. We believe in the power of sport to build friendships, promote healthy living, and strengthen community ties.
This year, we’re proud to launch Feabhsú agus Fás/Operation Transformation —a 6-week initiative designed to help participants transform their health and wellbeing through fitness, nutrition, and fun challenges. Alongside this, we are also working on enhancing our community infrastructure by providing new lighting for the local walking path, making it safer and more accessible for the participants of Operation Transformation and for all members of the community, especially during the darker winter months.
Why are we crowdfunding?
We are crowdfunding to deliver a comprehensive Operation Transformation programme and to install new lighting on the community walking path, which will directly benefit the local community. In addition, we aim to ensure that our activities are accessible to all, particularly those facing financial barriers, by reducing participation fees and eliminating other costs.
We aim to remove financial and logistical barriers to participation, enabling people from all backgrounds in the Dungiven area to get involved in sport and fitness activities. The rising cost of living has made it difficult for families to engage in extracurricular activities, and by securing funding, we hope to address this challenge, particularly for children, women, girls, and older people who are often excluded from such opportunities.
How we’ll spend the money raised
The funds raised will be allocated to ensure the Operation Transformation programme can take place, and that we provide lasting improvements to the community: Without this funding we will not be able to run this programme.
- Nutrition demonstrations: Funds will support any running costs that we might have. We will provide 4 nutrition demonstrations throughout the 6-week programme, offering valuable insights into healthy eating and sustainable nutrition.
- Fitness Sessions: Funds will support the delivery of 5 weekly fitness sessions. These sessions will cater to all fitness levels, ensuring accessibility for everyone, from beginners to more experienced participants.
- Sunday Challenge Events: A portion of the funds will cover the costs of Sunday Challenge Days, including prizes and logistics, to ensure these fun, family-oriented events continue to engage and bring joy to the community.
- Community Walking Path Lighting: We will allocate part of the funds to install new lighting along the walking path. This will allow us to accommodate the 'Mylife every step counts' challenge and provide more activities for the operation transformation program. This improvement will enhance safety and encourage outdoor activity in all weather conditions, particularly during the winter months when daylight hours are shorter.
- Winter Program for Children: In addition to Operation Transformation, we will run a winter program for kids to keep them engaged in sport during the colder months. The focus will be on offering free or reduced-cost activities to make sport more accessible for children, especially those from lower-income families. This will help remove financial barriers that might otherwise prevent them from returning to or continuing in sports.
- Marketing and Promotion: We will use part of the funding to raise awareness of the programme, ensuring we reach as many people as possible within the community, especially those who do not traditionally engage with the club.
- Participant Materials: Any remaining funds will be used to provide essential participant materials (e.g., fitness equipment, t-shirts) and refreshments during the events to enhance the overall experience.
Community impact
The Operation Transformation programme, along with the community path lighting initiative, will have a significant impact on the health, safety, and social wellbeing of the local community. Here are the key ways it will make a difference:
- Levelling The Playing Field: Our project will specifically address groups that have been traditionally excluded from sport and active roles within the club. This includes:
- Women & Girls: We will ensure that women and girls feel comfortable and supported in taking part in fitness activities, and we will create a welcoming environment for female participation.
- Children & Young People (Aged 11-18): We will offer affordable or free programs for young people, particularly those aged 11-18, who often face barriers to participation in sport due to financial constraints or a lack of access to suitable programs.
- Older People (Over 50): We will make the programme accessible to older adults, encouraging them to take part in fitness classes and benefit from increased physical activity, which is essential for maintaining long-term health and quality of life.
- Inclusive Participation: We are committed to providing affordable opportunities for people from all walks of life to participate in sport. The rising cost of living has created financial barriers to extracurricular activities for many families, so we are committed to reducing the cost of participation, ensuring that financial hardship is not a barrier to engagement.
- Building Social Connections: The programme will foster a sense of community and social connection through shared fitness experiences and fun challenges. By targeting individuals who might not normally engage with the club, we aim to create new pathways for people to connect with each other, build friendships, and feel part of something positive.
- Safer Outdoor Spaces: The new lighting along the walking path will improve safety and encourage more people to use the path for walking, running, and other forms of exercise, especially during the winter months. This is a critical infrastructure improvement for the local community, making outdoor activities more accessible, particularly for families and older adults.
- Sustainable Long-Term Benefits: The improvements we’re making through this initiative will have lasting impacts on the local community. Whether it's the walking path lighting, the fitness sessions, or the winter program for kids, the benefits will continue long after the 6-week programme ends, encouraging ongoing participation in sport and physical activity.
Through Operation Transformation, the walking path lighting initiative, and our commitment to supporting those facing financial barriers, we are proud to deliver a programme that truly levels the playing field and opens up opportunities for everyone in the community.
How you can play your part
There are four simple ways to help us reach our target, and make this project a reality.
1. Make a pledge. Don’t delay if you’re going to support us because momentum is key to our success!
2. Spread the word. Share our project on your social media pages and tell the world to get behind us! The more people we reach, the more support we will get.
3. Offer rewards. Get involved if you are a local business by donating things we can offer to our supporters. We will give you a shout out!
4. Fundraise for us. If you want to run your own fundraiser – maybe a sponsored activity or similar – use the 'contact project' button at the top of our page to let us know. Setting up your own page only takes a few minutes and you won’t need any bank details. Just a fun idea!