Revealing SPIN's Four SHINE HEROES Finalists For SHINE Festival 2021
SPIN has revealed four SHINE HEROES who will represent at SHINE Festival by The Shona Project. The national, virtual, and interactive event, which takes place today, on International Women’s Day, March 8th, already has over 30,000 people registered. Life Style Sports are proud sponsors of the SHINE Festival.
Sharron McCann, Director of Buying at Life Style Sports says “at Life Style Sports, we’re delighted to partner with SPIN and Shine in our ongoing efforts to support, empower and inspire Irish women and girls. We feel passionate about body positivity and inclusivity. Sport and exercise are a great benefit to strong mental health and resilience, so we’re really excited to be part of this movement, supporting such important topics for young Irish girls.”
SPIN has selected Faith Hurley, Abi Ward, Lily Keyes and Georgia Donohoe to join a panel of eight nationwide SHINE HEROES, whose unique stories aim to inspire the thousands in attendance.
14-year-old Faith Hurley was nominated by her mother Audrey who describes Faith as being “Kind, Loving and Determined”. Faith took it upon herself to set weekly challenges for fun and entertainment for the family during Lockdown 3 keeping her grandparents and family connected and staying positive.
Abi Ward is the second SHINE Hero to be nominated by SPIN 1038 and SPIN South West. Abi set her mind to raising money for Pieta House and Focus Ireland, charities close to her heart and spent 20 days running a total of 98km to raise a total of €3800!
Next up is Lily Keyes, who was nominated by her sister Katie. Lily’s niece April has battled cancer three times already in her young life, but Lily has always shown April love and support through reading fun stories and playing games with her.
13-year-old Georgia Donohoe is SPIN’s fourth and final SHINE Hero. Georgia is the younger sister of Laila, who has severe disabilities and special needs. Georgia helps keep the show on the road at home; always smiling and making others laugh.
Due to Covid-19, the award-winning social enterprise, The Shona Project, moved their traditional large-scale one-day on-site event into an inspirational, online three-day festival, created by young girls and women for young girls all over Ireland.
Tammy Darcy, Founder of The Shona Project said “At Shona, we have seen first-hand the challenges that our young women are experiencing. Covid has increased levels of anxiety, stress, and isolation. We wanted to create an event at which everyone who attends, feels seen, appreciated, and represented. SHINE is a wonderful event, and this year, as we go virtual, we have brought together what is quite possibly the biggest gathering of inspirational, authentic, smart, beautiful and real women you’ve ever seen.”
Valerie Wheeler commented ''To be involved in SHINE was a fabulous experience. To have gotten the opportunity to have been part of such a celebration of Inspiring Women In Ireland was a real eye opener of such incredible women we have in this country. It also shared and delivered an important message to the young women in Ireland. That they can and will achieve anything they want in life''
Laura Bracken added: "Being involved in SHINE Festival has been the most uplifting and positive experience. I am beyond delighted to have been a part of such an incredible, diverse, inspiring and wonderful event. It’s a festival I wished I could have attended when I was in school. The feeling of women coming together to share stories and words of encouragement all in a bid to lift one another up and to empower one another is nothing short of amazing.”
SHINE Festival is an empowering event for the girls of Ireland, bringing together young women to hear from over eighty inspirational women from Vicky Phelan to Laura Whitmore, all while interacting in a safe and positive space that celebrates themselves, each other, and female empowerment.
