An exceptional coach, who has put his own health worries aside to help train dozens of runners, has been named Sport NI’s SportMaker Community Coach of the Year.
Aidan O’Neill, a founder of Run Anon Club based in Crumlin, was surprised with the well-deserved accolade at a recent training session of his club. Aidan, 56, impressed the SportMaker judges with his selfless dedication to his club members, charity work and volunteering at the Upper Springfield Development Trust to coach newbie runners for the Couch to 5K.
The West Belfast native has spent countless hours sharing his love of running with others so they can be physically and mentally healthy. Inspirationally, the award-winning coach has done this all while battling pancreatic cancer.
SportMaker Community Coach of the Year Winner Aidan O’Neill receiving his award
Fellow Run Anon founder Trisha Donnell, said: “Aidan is such an extraordinary guy with such a knowledge of running on every level and wanting to help everybody no matter what he is going through himself.”
The married father-of-three said his enjoyment of running has been a lifelong passion that he loves to pass on to other people.
He said: “I get so much out of coaching. I love seeing the people showing-up and they are from all ages. We have people in our club from 16 to 62. We have grandsons and grannies and grandads. “To see a group that started off doing a 5K and progress up into a full marathon – it’s unbelievable. It’s great to see them achieve that. I love it!”
He added: “The people in this club are unbelievable they put 100% in every week. They come along every week and put their heart and soul in. I always try to do a good job to help them achieve their goal.”
Aidan was given the devastating news that he had pancreatic cancer in January, with doctors later telling him it was inoperable. However, on hearing there was cutting edge treatment that could help Aidan, his family, friends and the running community rallied round. They raised an incredible £31,000 in just a week for Aidan’s treatment that he will now begin today (Monday, December 12).
SportMaker winner Aidan O’Neill running the Dublin Marathon
Speaking of Aidan’s strength as he went through gruelling chemotherapy treatment earlier this year, fellow Run Anon founder Shauna Gibson said: “Aidan had 12 rounds of the worst chemo that you could have and every single time he kept turning up to training to coach. It might have been really hard for him he would have got his chemo bottle on him on the Thursday and I would have lifted him at the house but he showed up to every single training session bar one or two.
“He went through his full 12 rounds and two and a half weeks after it he was determined to run the Dublin Marathon. We just don’t know how he did it. “But he got round it and that’s what makes him so exceptional,” she said.
“The response to Aidan’s fundraising drive has been incredible. It just shows how well thought of he is. Aidan’s a fighter and we’re right behind him.”
Aidan added: “I’m on a long marathon at the moment and I’m maybe hitting about nine mile in my journey and there is a long road ahead of me, but you just have to keep going. You can’t lie down.”
(l-r) Run Anon’s Shauna Gibson, SportMaker winner Aidan O’Neill, Sport NI’s Alan Curran and Run Anon’s Trisha Donnell
Antoinette McKeown, Sport NI Chief Executive, congratulated Aidan on his SportMaker award win. She said: “Our SportMaker Awards celebrate those exceptional people who enrich the lives of others through their love of sport.
“There is no doubt that Aidan is one of those exceptional people. Aidan’s passion and drive for running is only equalled by his selflessness to pass on his knowledge and skills to others, so they too can reap the physical and mental benefits of running.
“The fact that Aidan has continued to coach runners and ran a marathon while battling cancer is nothing short of incredible.
“He is a true SportMaker!”
The Sport NI SportMaker Awards give the sporting community the opportunity to showcase their achievements and give special thanks to coaches, officials and volunteers who work hard behind the scenes. There are12 award categories recognising achievement at all levels of sports participation, from grassroots through to high performance.