Seven talented young sportsmen and women from Suffolk including a steeplechaser, long jumper, golfer, basketball and hockey players and a javelin thrower, have received a huge shot in the arm following recognition from SportsAid, the national charity for sportspeople.
Each was presented with a SportsAid grant by the charity at a special reception at Ipswich Town Football Club. The grants recognise their sporting achievements and their future sporting potential.
They were made possible through fundraising by the Ipswich Sporting Lunch Club.
The latest young sportsmen and women to receive funding are: Emily Moyes, an international steeplechaser from Stowmarket; Esther Little, international basketball player from Thurston; Archie Winter, international hockey player from Halesworth; Don Baker, international javelin thrower from Ipswich; Ella Pearson, international basketball player from Sudbury; Holly Durbidge, international long jumper from Lowestoft; and Lily May Humphreys, international golfer from Sudbury.
Emily, who is the England Under 20 3000m champion and the second fastest British female under 20 since records began, said: “I’m so grateful to both SportsAid and the local businesses behind the Ipswich Sporting Lunch Club for their amazing support. It means a huge amount to be recognised for my talent and spurs me on to work even harder to achieve at the very top level.”
Set up in January 2015 the club raises money to enable SportsAid to support more talented up and coming sportsmen and women from Suffolk.
The charity works with the governing bodies of 75 sporting disciplines, to ensure the right athletes get financial support and recognition at the right time.
It is sponsored by seven businesses from the Ipswich area – Pound Gates Chartered Insurance Brokers, Ensors Chartered Accountants, Handelsbanken, Ellisons Solicitors, Concertus, StrategiQ and Picasso HR.
Andrew Rowe, managing director of Concertus, said: “We continue to be pleasantly surprised by the huge depth of sporting talent that exists in Suffolk. It is our privilege to be able to help and support these fantastic young sportsmen and women through our fundraising and we wish them all the very best for their future sporting endeavours.”
Since SportsAid Suffolk was established in 2007 it has raised and distributed over £175,000 to support aspiring sportsmen and women from the county. The Ipswich Sporting Lunch Club is critical to the charity’s fundraising efforts.
The next lunch club event takes place on Friday, September 21, at Wherstead Park. The guest speaker will be Suffolk boxer and Olympic medallist Anthony Ogogo.
For further information contact Adam Baker at adam.baker@suffolk.gov.uk
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