About Get BACk

The Get BACk Challenge is a registered charity that raises funds to support a broad range of health and activity initiatives aimed particularly at socially disadvantaged children.  The Focus Consulting organized Get BACk Challenge is now in its sixth year of operation having started in 2006.  An annual charity cycle and walk are the main fundraising drivers in addition to attracting corporate support from businesses throughout the region.

The Get BACk Challenge was initially developed to bring businesses and their associates together to raise funds in tackling cancer using a ‘top down’ (care) and ‘bottom up’ (prevention) approach.  The top down ‘care’ approach is designed to fund palliative home care programmes run by local hospices across the Mid West for those unfortunate to be affected by Cancer.  The bottom up ‘preventative’ approach is funded on adopting a proactive approach to living a healthy and active lifestyle particularly among young people and counteract the growing issue of childhood obesity and its associated health problems.

The central idea is that encouraging activity among kids and adopting a healthy lifestyle will reduce their risk of contracting life threatening illnesses later in life and that they will carry through a healthy focus with them in life.  The principal target groups are those living in the social disadvantaged areas of the region.

Fund Distribution

Funds raised by the Get BACk Challenge Charity are distributed under the following headings
-    Sports and Activity for children in areas of social disadvantage
-    Funds to facilitate disability sports
-    Programmes to tackle childhood obesity
-    Contributions to home care Hospice programmes

Who Benefits?

Our approach is based on a top down and bottom up approach
Care – Top Down –  Contributing to Cancer Care through Hospices Home Care Programmes
Prevention – Bottom Up – Promoting health and active lifestyles to prevent childhood obesity

Health & Activity Programmes

“Today’s children, tomorrow’s world” – prevention through healthy habits
Our partnership with the Limerick City Local Sports Partnership has resulted in the creation of an extensive range of programmes and activities that enable children access regular sports, activity and health programmes.  The principal focus of the Get BACk Challenge is children from disadvantaged areas and areas considered as sporting disadvantage.  The creation of regular activity programmes, provision of equipment and facilities is estimated to have benefited in excess of 7,000 children.
In addition to the provision of health and activity programmes across socially disadvantaged areas the Get BACk Challenge has provided access for parents, coaches and teachers to a range of seminars and educational forums in the area of nutrition and sports coaching.  Over 2,200 people have attended the four annual sports conferences held in conjunction with the Mid West Sports Partnerships.  A nutrition road show and major Nutritional Conference were also hosted in conjunction with Local Sports Partnerships.

Special Needs Groups

The role of activity and sport plays a major role on the lives of young people with special needs.  The Get BACk Challenge continues to provides funding support to a broad programme of activity through the Sports Inclusion Disability Office.  Our grants programme has also supported a number of Mid West organisations catering for young people with disabilities to provide access to regular participation in sport and activity.
Cancer Care
As part of our Top Down approach we support Home Care programmes operated through the Mid West Hospice network.  Funds from the annual Get BACk Challenge are donated to Mid-West Hospices

Clubs & Organisations

A grants programme focused on clubs operating in social disadvantaged areas along with clubs and organisations supporting people with disabilities to take part in sport activity.  A total of 55 clubs and organisations have been supported through the grants programme administered through Limerick City Sports Partnership.