WATCH – Paralympics Ireland’s Powerful New Video – More Than Sport

Paralympics Ireland today announced their 56-person-strong Athlete Panel at the launch of a powerful new fundraising campaign More Than Sport. The campaign features a number of athletes from this year's panel and aims to raise vital funds for Rio to supplement recent Government funding that was allocated towards to Games and Performance Programme. The stories of the athletes will be told, with a behind-the-scenes look into life as a top Irish athlete, their dedication, training and above all what motivates them. The campaign is also requesting people to text PARA to 50300 to donate €4. CEO of Paralympics Ireland Liam Harbison said: "More Than Sport is a new awareness and fundraising initiative we’ve launched this year as we prepare for the Rio 2016 Games, where we hope to see Ireland’s athletes do us proud on the international stage, with the tricolour soaring high and medals and Lifetime Bests to celebrate." "But behind those medals, there’s more, behind those world records, there’s more and it’s that something more that is the true essence of this campaign. Paralympic athletes are more than elite athletes. They are elite athletes who have achieved and succeeded against all the odds. They are athletes who have faced adversity, and won. They are athletes who have often been told they can’t, to then go on and prove that in fact, they can." Watch the inspiring video below: Lead Image and Clip Via YouTube/Paralympics Ireland