CYSTIC FIBROSIS TRUST SUPPORTERS JK AND JOEL LAUNCH AER LINGUS ANNUAL SCHOOLS’ ART COMPETITION

19 November 2008 - 19 January 2008

TV and radio personalities JK and Joel have teamed up with Aer Lingus, gold sponsors of the 2009 Deep RiverRock Belfast City Marathon and official charity the Cystic Fibrosis Trust to launch the Aer Lingus Schools’ Art Competition.

Commenting on the competition, Aer Lingus Corporate Affairs Director, Enda Corneille said; “This is the second year we have held a Northern Irish schools art competition, we anticipate a very high level of participation and look forward to seeing the creative efforts in this year’s submissions.
“We are opening up the competition to secondary and grammar schools and expect to see some really spectacular artwork.”

Linda Alexander, Regional Fundraising Manager for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust said: “We are thrilled that JK and Joel are coming to Northern Ireland to launch this competition and all the children are really excited about meeting them. We hope lots of schools take part in the art competition, and that people sign up to take part in next year’s marathon and fun run to raise vital funds for Cystic Fibrosis research.”

Danny O’Connor, Chairman of the Deep RiverRock Belfast City Marathon said, “This is a wonderful opportunity to get the local community involved in one of the biggest sporting events in Northern Ireland. We are extremely grateful to Aer Lingus and the Cystic Fibrosis Trust for their hard work in encouraging participation in sport through the local schools and look forward to seeing them at the starting line on 4th May 2009.”

The art competition is aimed at two age groups. The first category asks children from primary six classes to design an image of athletes travelling from the four corners of the globe to take part in the Deep RiverRock Belfast City Marathon. The winning design will feature on the t-shirts of children who take part in the marathon fun run next year and the winner will also receive free flights from Belfast International Airport to anywhere on the Aer Lingus route network for their entire class and two teachers.

The second category invites third year pupils from secondary and grammar schools to design a banner that will motivate and encourage runners. The artwork should include the slogan, ‘Aer Lingus; Inspiring you to go the distance’ and the winning design will be placed on a banner marking the half way point on the main marathon route. The winner of this category will receive four free flights (to include at least one adult over 21 years old) to anywhere on the Aer Lingus route network, departing from Belfast International Airport.

JK and Joel will help judge the competition along with Enda Corneille, Corporate Affairs Director of Aer Lingus, Danny O’Connor, Chairman of the Deep RiverRock Belfast City Marathon and Deborah Matchett, PR Executive at Belfast International Airport. The best entries from each category will then be put to a public vote in the Daily Mirror at the beginning of April 2009 to decide on the winning designs.
Last year Macosquin Primary School from Coleraine celebrated winning the competition, with complimentary flights for the entire class to Paris courtesy of Aer Lingus. The winning class was invited to the launch ceremony of Aer Lingus’ first flight from Belfast to London Heathrow, to unveil their winning logo at Belfast International Airport followed by a fantastic art master class.

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