VIDEO: Ireland’s Paralympians star in stirring new promo as they launch Rio campaign

They want your support.

On Tuesday Paralympics Ireland (PI) announced their 56-strong panel of athletes for 2016 while simultaneously launched a new fundraising campaign. "More than Sport" is a powerful awareness drive, featuring top Paralympians such as Jason Smyth, Michael McKillop and Ellen Keane. By highlighting the huge commitment made by Irish athletes, PI hopes the public will help supplement recent government funding and raise additional funds ahead of Rio 2016 through text donations. Speaking about the launch, CEO of Paralympics Ireland, Liam Harbison stated: “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."

The 56 elite Irish athletes on the panel are hoping to compete across 10 sports at Rio 2016, which takes place from 7th to 18th September. 2016 Paralympics Ireland Athlete Panel Athletics: Jason Smyth (Derry), Michael McKillop (Antrim), Orla Barry (Cork), Niamh McCarthy (Cork), Deirdre Mongan (Galway), Noelle Lenihan (Cork), John McCarthy (Cork), Lorraine Regan (Offaly), Paul Keogan (Meath), Patrick Monahan (Kildare), Heather Jameson (Dublin). Canoeing: Patrick O’Leary (Galway) Cycling: Colin Lynch (Manchester, UK), Eoghan Clifford (Galway), Katie-George Dunlevy (Crawley, UK) and Eve McCrystal (Louth), Peter Ryan (Tipperary), Sean Hahessey (Tipperary), James Brown (Stonehouse, UK), Fiona McCormack (Meath), Ciara Staunton (Wicklow), Declan Slevin (Westmeath), Jerry Towey (Roscommon), Martin Gordon (Dublin), Damien Veraker (Waterford) Equestrian: Helen Kearney (Wicklow), Rosemary Gaffney (Tipperary) Football 7-A-Side: Brian Mc Gillivary (Dublin), Simon L’Estrange (Westmeath), Joe Markey (Monaghan), Luke Evans (Dublin), Gary Messett (Wicklow),Daragh Snell (Wicklow), Eric O’Flaherty (Galway), Podge Leacy (Wexford), Peter Cotter (Cork), Aaron Tier (Limerick), Tom Badun (Louth), Dillon Sheridan (Ballyfermot), Ryan Nolan (Wicklow), Conor Tuite (Louth), Carl McKee (Dublin) Sailing: John Twomey (Cork), Ian Costelloe (Kerry), Austin O’Carroll (Cork) Shooting: Sean Baldwin (Kildare), Phillip Eaglesham (Tyrone) Swimming: Ellen Keane (Dublin), James Scully (Meath), Jonathan McGrath (Clare), Ailbhe Kelly (Dublin), Nicole Turner (Laois) Table Tennis: Rena McCarron Rooney (Donegal/Galway) Triathlon: Aidan McGlynn (Belfast), Fran Meehan (Offaly) and Catherine Walsh (Swords) To contribute text PARA to 50300. Text costs €4. Paralympics Ireland will receive a minimum of €3.25. Service Provider: LIKECHARITY. Helpline: 076 6805278. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cjm6j5x6bQE