County board's 'novel' fundraiser based on hit Netflix drama

Westmeath County Board is hoping to raise over €200,000 from a major fundraiser it is holding later in the year that's loosely based on the format of the hit Netflix show, Squid Game.

Scheduled to take place on Sunday October 29 in the Mullingar Park Hotel, Quid Game, will see one representative from each of Westmeath's 47 clubs plus 13 others, whose identities have yet to be revealed, going head-to-head with the winner taking home €10,000 for their club.

Just like in Squid Game (only minus the killing), the starting group of contestants in Quid Game will be whittled down through a series of games, which will include musical chairs and pumping up a balloon with your foot until it bursts.

Each participant will be tasked with securing a sponsor for €250, selling 20 €20 tickets for the event and raising additional funds from donations. Once the figure of €1,500 has been raised through donations, any additional money will be divided fifty/fifty between the county board and the club in question.

Speaking at Wednesday evening's monthly county board meeting where he outlined the details of the fundraiser, head of operations Pat Doherty said that the strictly over 18s event will be a fun evening for those in attendance and participants. He also revealed that while the cost of running the event is expected to be between €40,000 to €45,000, the county board is hopeful that it will raise in excess of €200,000.

“ We will start with a number of players and end up with one winner. What we are talking about in terms of Quid Games are very simple games. There is no physical requirement. It's just a few very simple games, a bit of fun, which will produce a winner as you move through it. It is novel. It is the first time it is being done.

“...We are hoping for up to 60 participants, who will compete for a cash prize. The participants will compete in a series of challenges to determine the winner. It will be 60 people playing down to one over a series of six games.

“Every person who takes part will play at least two games. People are knocked out as it moves along but everyone will participate in at least two games.

“There is no skill or physicality. That's one of the things that we think is attractive about this. Some of you have participated in Strictly Come Dancing, some of you have participated in The Oscars, there is a huge commitment in the build up to them in terms of practice. There is no practice involved here. From the games point of view the participants will simply turn up on the night and take part in those couple of games.”

A number of delegates questioned what would happen if one of the 13 contestants not representing a club won. While not elaborating on how it would be achieved, chair Frank Mescall gave a guarantee that “a club is going to win the €10,000”.

He also called on every club to get behind the fundraiser, which is being run in conjunction with the Cavan-based firm, ClubSpot.

“I would make an appeal to you to support this. It's novel. It hasn't been done in the county before. It's very unusual for us to be the frontrunners in any fundraising thing. We think it is going to be very successful. The only way it will be successful is if you support it.

“It is geared towards every club. We would be looking for the support of every single club in the county. It's not going to kill you, I hope, but it will require a bit of work from you. I would hope that you would be open to that and support it.”

Mr Mescall asked clubs to choose the person who will participate in the event within the next three weeks as there will be an official launch before the end of July.