Press release -
Athletics stars back SportsBall to help next generation
Adam Gemili, David Weir CBE, Roger Black MBE and Baroness Grey-Thompson DBE will be helping talented new-comers hoping to follow in their footsteps on November 27 when they join SportsAid at its annual SportsBall in London, sponsored by Eversheds.
Attended for the first time last year by the charity’s Patron, Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge, this year the SportsBall returns to Supernova in London’s Embankment Gardens where the guests will find out who Britain’s future Olympians and Paralympians might be and how they can help them on their way.
Eleven-time Paralympic gold medallist Baroness Grey-Thompson DBE said, “The SportsBall is such an inspiring event. It’s fantastic to see young sports people getting the recognition they deserve and I know as a former SportsAid recipient myself it has a huge impact on you.”
Two fast-rising stars of athletics who have benefited from SportsAid’s support this year are 17–year-old heptathlete Morgan Lake from Bagshot in England and 14-year-old sprinter Maria Lyle from Dunbar in Scotland. This summer Morgan won two gold medals at the IAAF World Junior Championships in Oregon and says her financial support from SportsAid has helped her to achieve her goals.
She added, “My training costs are increasing the older and more successful I have become. I need specialist spikes and equipment for all the events I do and need to see a physiotherapist on a regular basis and also have massage therapy and see a chiropractor.”
In February Maria burst onto the athletics scene by setting a new world record on her international debut when she clocked 31.01 seconds in the 200m T35. After receiving her second SportsAid Award this year she said, "Thank you for your continued support it makes all the difference."
To join the next generation on their journey to success, book your SportsBall tickets or tables today from sportsball.org.uk or by calling the booking line on 020 8704 4141.
The SportsBall is in aid of SportsAid (charity: 1111612; patron: Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge), helping talented, young, disabled and non-disabled athletes from around 60 sports.
Topics
- Sport
Categories
- maria lyle
- morgan lake
- tanni grey-thompson
- roger black
- david weir
- adam gemili
- sportsaid
- sportsball
More information
Call Simon Worsfold at SportsAid on 020 7273 1978 or email simon@sportsaid.org.uk.
SportsAid
- SportsAid is the only national charity of its kind (#1111612), helping young British sportsmen and women who aspire to be the nation's next Olympic, Paralympic, Commonwealth or world champions.
- The charity's patron is Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge.
- At the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games almost two-thirds of the British team were former recipients of SportsAid's support, winning 20 of Team GB's 29 gold medals and 27 of ParalympicsGB's 34 gold medals.
- At the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games more than 450 of the athletes competing were previously supported by SportsAid, with 241 of them winning medals.
For more information visit www.sportsaid.org.uk, follow @TeamSportsAid on Twitter, contact the charity on Facebook, connect on LinkedIn, or sign up to receive its monthly newsletter.
SportsBall
- The SportsBall is SportsAid's flagship annual event: a gala dinner which raises money for and shines a spotlight on the next generation of British athletes.
- In 2013, Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge, SportsAid's patron, presented the charity's prestigious One-to-Watch Award at the SportsBall to skeet shooter Amber Hill who in 2014 won her first world title.
- Previous One-to-Watch Award winners include diver Tom Daley, gymnast Courtney Tulloch and sprinter Jodie Williams.
- Other notable SportsBall attendees in recent years include Sir Bradley Wiggins, Sir Matthew Pinsent, Sir Ben Ainslie, Baroness Grey-Thompson and David Weir CBE.
- Find out more at www.sportsball.org.uk.
