Ten people from Northern Ireland are one step closer to realising their dreams of taking on an Alpine Marathon challenge with Powerade this summer.
Seven men and three women from counties Antrim, Down, Derry and Armagh have been selected on a short-list for the 2009 Never Give Up team.The candidates qualified from an original entry of close to 1,000 people, with over 200 of those applying from Northern Ireland.
Sportspeople and enthusiasts submitted their applications to www.nevergiveup.tv over a six-week period in the lead-up to Christmas, with everyone from world champions to sports novices making a pitch for their selection.
The Northern Ireland short-list includes 23 year-old marketing executive Angeline Sloan from County Down, who describes herself as ‘an adrenaline junkie' who would give the Powerade challenge ‘100% in mind and body'. It also features 25-year old Gavin Eastwood from County Antrim, who is looking to ‘regain the buzz and zest for life that things like this provide'.
‘The reaction to our Never Give Up challenges has always been very positive, but this year the response has simply been overwhelming,' said Powerade Brand Manager, Aengus King in Belfast today.
‘The Alpine marathon challenge has obviously struck a chord, and to have almost 1,000 people apply to be part of our team clearly shows the enthusiasm out there for the challenge.
‘The task of narrowing down the initial entry field was very difficult. The standard of the applications we received was extremely high and people were very passionate about why they wanted to be part of this year's Never Give Up campaign.'
The Alpine Marathon challenge will test the physical and mental endurance of the Powerade team as they train for one of the world's most exciting distance running challenges. From the moment they are picked until the start of the race in July, the challengers will benefit from advice, support and motivation from a team of Powerade mentors led by Derry-based mountain runner Hannah Shields, the first woman from Northern Ireland to climb Mount Everest.
The selection of the team, and their training and participation in the race, will be filmed for Powerade's 2009 ‘Never Give Up' television and marketing campaign.
The 10 people selected from Northern Ireland have been short-listed along with 30 other candidates from the Republic of Ireland. This initial short-list of 40 has already been handed over to a panel of expert judges who are in the process of selecting a national shortlist of eight people.
The final Powerade team of three is expected to be announced by the end of January.
The 10 people from Northern Ireland short-listed for the Powerade Alpine Marathon Challenge are: Gavin Eastwood, Ballyclare, Co. Antrim; Kieran Collins, Belfast, Co. Antrim; Paul McCann, Ballymena, Co. Antrim; Laura Creighton, Newtownabbey, Co. Antrim; Mark Kennedy, Portstewart, Co. Derry; Jason Steele, Coleraine, Co. Derry; Rudi Moore, Derry City; Caroline Sacramento, Bangor, Co. Down; Angeline Sloan, Kilkeel, Co. Down and Colm Byrne, Craigavon, Co. Armagh.