SBC News GVC hails SportsAid programme developing next generation of British athletes

GVC hails SportsAid programme developing next generation of British athletes

Grainne Hurst - GVC Holdings
Grainne Hurst – GVC Holdings

GVC Holdings looks forward to a further year of working with SportsAid, following the success of its first year partnering with the charity in supporting and developing ‘Britain’s next generation of top athletes’.

In 2019, SportsAid was announced as one of the beneficiary charities of the FTSE100 firm’s newly formed ‘GVC Foundation’, providing a £2 million ‘community fund’ for its UK charity partners and social initiatives.

Launched with the support of 11-time Paralympic gold medallist Baroness Grey-Thompson, GVC worked with SportsAid developing a programme to fund British athletes during the critical early stages of their careers.

Partnership commitments, see GVC support 50 SportsAid athletes each year, providing funding to help towards the cost of training, travel and equipment, as well as expert advice and guidance on a broad range of topics including nutrition, time management, training and dealing with the media.

“In a world where local and grassroots sports are under increasing financial pressure we believe our collaboration with SportsAid helps play a pivotal role in supporting the next generation of British sporting heroes,” said Grainne Hurst, GVC’s Group Director of Corporate Affairs.

“Providing as many opportunities as we can for our nation’s brightest sporting talent is crucial if we want to continue to achieve sporting success on the podium.  We’re thrilled that we are also able to support Cheyanne, one of our own GVC colleagues, through this partnership. She has shown huge promise as a talented young athlete, and we are delighted to be supporting her quest for sprinting glory.”

Entering year-2 of its partnership with SportsAid, GVC confirms that a total of 12 athletes will continue on its 2020 programme, including top prospects – archer Eleanor Piper, rifle shooter Ruth Mwandumba, track-and-field star Joel Clarke-Khan, para table tennis player Craig Allen and wheelchair basketball talent Ross Davidson.

GVC makes a special mention 0f Croydon Harriers sprinter Cheyanne Evans-Gray a colleague of Ladbrokes Coral and Tokyo 2021 prospect, who recently broke the British University and Colleges Sport (BUCS) Championships record over 60m.

Commenting on the programme’s support Evans-Gray said; “I feel overwhelmed and am really grateful for the support from Sports Aid. I’m in training to compete at The Olympics and hopefully win gold and this funding means that I can afford to fund more training and it will give me a helping hand in buying some new kit. The mentoring programme will mean so much to me too.

Tim Lawler - SportsAid
Tim Lawler – SportsAid

GVC backed young athletes follow in the footsteps of Team GB Olympian greats’ Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill, Sir Mo Farah, Dame Sarah Storey and Ellie Simmonds OBE – all of whom received SportsAid support.

Backing 2020 directives and a new roster of talent, Tim Lawler, SportsAid Chief Executive said: “Confirming support for a new cohort of talented young athletes is always exciting and this continued commitment from GVC is very welcome news in these uncertain times.”

“Recognising and encouraging the next generation to develop their potential has arguably never been more important, and we are thrilled to see our partnership with GVC going from strength to strength.”

Cheyanne Evans-Gray, winning BUCS 2020 Championship 

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