The Burley Oaks Primary School Fundraiser

Aim

To support the mental and physical health of the pupils by hosting an inspirational workshop.

Burley Oaks Primary School are hosting an inspirational workshop with Winter Olympian Mica McNeill. Can you help us make it happen?

The School 

Burley Oaks Primary School is a fantastic school where both children and adults work together as an incredibly strong team. They are very proud of all the children and their many successes. Visitors to the school often remark on a positive, hardworking atmosphere with a strong sense of team spirit and celebration.

The school strive to enjoy their learning and make it as much fun and as meaningful and relevant as possible. They offer children an excellent education in a safe, calm, creative, inclusive and stimulating environment. Every child is valued as an individual; they aim to nurture well rounded, respectful and confident children who will develop skills for life-long learning.

Who's coming? 

HOW I STARTED

I was in school and was invited to a Try Something New Day, so I travelled down to Bedale in North Yorkshire. Nicola Minichiello, the current world champion was conducting the Bobsleigh taster session, I really enjoyed the day and was interested in the sport. At the end of the session, Nicola pulled me aside and explained that I looked like I had potential and invited me down to Bath to trial.

I made my way down and they had us perform sprints, jump and pushing on the dry push-track. Shortly after these trials, they invited me to join the GB Youth team. Within two months I had gone from no experience in Bobsleigh to being on the GB Youth team! I was over the moon.

MY GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT

At the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang, I made history as the highest finish for a British woman ever as I finished in 8th place. It was only when I went into the mixed zone after my run that I found out that I had been the highest finishing woman ever! This was a huge achievement because funding had actually been cut for the women’s team five months prior to the games.

 MY GREATEST CHALLENGE 

After qualifying for the Olympic Games and winning the junior world championships in 2017, the federation decided to cut the women’s programme. Even after I had pre-qualified for the Olympic Games and become a junior world champion, they still decided to cut funding meaning I had to find my own way to the games and fund myself in the months leading up to the games. I had the choice, to raise money and go to the games, or quit. I decided to go to the public and start a crowdfunding campaign to get us to the Olympics. We raised £48,000 overall and managed to make history in doing so. We really were powered by the people!

MY HOBBIES

I love playing Netball. I played Netball before bobsleigh and I will play Netball after Bobsleigh! I currently play in a social league and am looking to join a club to play more. I also love training my dog, Elle and taking her to the beach and the dog shop to get her new treats. 

MY FUTURE GOALS

In the future, I want to inspire young people to grow out of their comfort zone and try something new just like I did ten years ago before I started bobsleigh. I want to show everyone that getting out of your comfort zone can lead to a hobby or passion for life! 

Who are we?

Sports For Champions UK (CIC) in partnership with Burley Oaks Primary School and the local community are running a fundraiser to help support the mental and physical health of the pupils after the national lockdowns.

Great news! Sports For Champions UK (CIC) will soon visit your school! Youth are invited to join a sponsored fitness circuit led by a Professional athlete, who will educate, enable, and empower participants with a view to inspire them as champions of tomorrow.

While we’re not all athletically inclined we strongly encourage participation, because all youth have talent and require inspiration to pursue their dreams - whatever they may be! After 10 years of success, we can promise a highly memorable event!

Sports For Champions events are held in support of schools, which keep 60% of the funds raised to spend on resources that will enrich young peoples’ education/experience. Professional athletes in need of support are the only other beneficiaries from the remaining 40%. Sports For Champions is an audited organization that is voluntarily registered with the Fundraising Regulator. You can support the initiative with assurance.

During the assembly, Sports For Champions athletes show medals and tell their story, hard work, lessons, and insights shared to capture the imagination of all and inspire healthier active lifestyles. Athletes discuss challenges on the road to success, with resilience, nutrition, diet, and dedication forming key topics. Fitness is essential for every young person’s general wellbeing in physical and mental health. It is also proven to be a strong booster of learning potential or brain power. By inspiring children as champions of tomorrow, Sports For Champions envision youth growing in all walks of life as healthy, [pro] active community-minded talents.

Alongside Team Sports For Champions, athletes invest in local communities to avail of support with training-related costs (e.g. physio/travel). Most world-class athletes train a rigorous 35hr week and struggle to find reliable work that fits their schedule. This is how the funds we raise enable athletes and your school/club to realise their potential. Many pro athletes are unsponsored, lose support, or cannot find it.

Sports For Champions offers schools the benefit of an added investment on resources/facilities, whilst helping athletes with the funds required to sustain their journey with a contribution towards training and competition fees, medical costs, equipment, and more.

Burley Oaks Primary School will be receiving an inspirational visit from renowned Winter Olympian Mica McNeill on the 3rd of October 2022 and we need your support!

The pupils will benefit from Physical activity, an inspirational talk including medal display and a Q&A session.

Why is this important?

Burley Oaks Primary School is promoting health and wellbeing throughout the school and with the help of a visit from Mica McNeill, this will be enhanced as a school, they are also focussing on encouraging diversity and raising the aspirations of the pupils through sport.

Burley Oaks Primary School will benefit from the money raised as they will be able to invest in new equipment and fund opportunities for the children in afterschool clubs.

How can you help?

We're asking all parents to help make it a memorable event for the pupils with the help of Winter Olympian Mica McNeill and to raise funds for key resources for Burley Oaks Primary School.

If you are a local business or a friend of the school and would like to contribute to help us get to our target then please do make a donation and share our project as far as you can.

This project successfully funded on 11th October 2022