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Social entrepreneurs honoured
A LOCAL man and woman are among 31 people who have been honoured at the Social Entrepreneurs Ireland 2009 Awards ceremony.
Myles McCorry from Omeath received a Level 2 award for setting up BikePure, an organisation which tackles drug abuse amongst professional cyclists.
Myles establised BikePure in a spare bedroom at his home in 2008 in a bid to restore the integrity of cycling. Established with the help of ex professional cyclist, Andy Layhe, BikePure now has over 13,000 members in 81 countries
It started as an anti-doping campaign, but BikePure now uses its membership to tackle the root causes of doping and improve testing procedures.
Over the next two years, Myles plans to transfer the successful cycling model to other sports in an attempt to promote safe sport globally.
Meanwhile, Benedicta Attoh from Red Barn's Road received a Level 1 Award for her work with The 'Women in Leadership Network' (Dundalk).
Benedicta is working to develop a non-partisan political training resource that will be used for training, mentoring and supporting young women to take the leap into active citizenship, political participation and leadership.
In Ireland, the percentage of women elected into Dil Eireann in 2007 was just 13% and the percentage of women elected into local councils in 2009 stands at around 17%.
Benedicta plans to provide women with the mentoring, support and skills required to succeed and stay in the male-dominated world of politics.
Established in 2004, the annual Social Entrepreneurs Ireland Awards are supported by NTR and have disbursed over e3.44 million to over 142 people and organisations who have brought their innovative ideas to drive social change in Ireland.
Other award winners this year included singer Frances Black who set up The Rise Foundation to help families of addicts understand the nature of the disease and the profound effects it has on relationships.
tamara@dundalkdemocrat.ie
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