Goetre Primary School are hosting an inspirational workshop with Reading FC & Wales International Left Back Lily Woodham. Lily needs your help to raise funds for vital training, medical and competition costs. This money will also help your school and other athletes across the country, find out more below!
Goetre Primary is a large primary school serving the community of Gurnos, Merthyr Tydfil. They have two learning resource bases (LRBs) and two classes in each year group.
Who's Coming?
How I Started
I was seven when I started playing football. My dad and brother used to put me in goal when they’d play, but it was when they started taking me to games that I took a liking to the sport and so I started playing with the boys at school until the age of 12 when I began playing with the girls!
My Greatest Achievement
My greatest achievement is making my debut for Wales against the Faroe Islands. I was really excited to play as it was a chance to show off my talent. It was the greatest feeling stepping onto the pitch but I also ended up scoring a header from a cross which was a huge surprise, and to see the players that I had looked up to for so long run up to celebrate a goal that I scored was a dream come true!
My Greatest Challenge
My greatest challenge was moving away from home as I moved to Reading when I was 17, but having lived with and relied on my mum for my whole life made it a different challenge, thankfully I moved in with my best friend which made the transition easier. I would train on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday’s, be at college every Friday and I would usually be playing in a match each Saturday! Safe to say that this packed schedule didn’t help with keeping the house in tip-top condition.
My Podcast
Check out my podcast to learn more about me and my career. Maybe it will inspire you to write some questions for me ahead of the event!
My Hobbies
Outside of football, I love to drink coffee and I’m happy to drive for hours to find a quaint coffee shop for a brew. I also love shopping and spending time with friends and family when I’m not busy training!
My Future goals
In the future, I hope to play for one of the top four clubs or abroad at the likes of PSG or Barcelona, but I’d also love to continue playing for Wales and achieve 100 caps for my country.
Who are Sports For Champions?
Sports For Champions UK (CIC) in partnership with Goetre 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! Your young people have been invited to join a sponsored fitness circuit led by a Professional athlete, who will educate, enable, and empower participants with a view to inspiring them to be the champions of tomorrow.
While we're not all athletically inclined we strongly encourage participation, all young people have talent and require inspiration to pursue their dreams - whatever they may be! After 12 years of success we have perfected our inspirational events and they are guaranteed to deliver for your school and pupils!
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 organisation that is voluntarily registered with the Fundraising Regulator. Meaning you can support the initiative with assurance.
What will happen on the day?
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 engage in invaluable work within local communities to support their 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 additional funds to go towards 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.
Goetre Primary School be receiving an inspirational visit from renowned Reading FC & Wales International Left Back Lily Woodham on the 6th of December 2023 and we need your support!
The pupils will benefit from Physical activity, an inspirational talk including medal display and a Q&A session.
Where does the money go?
When parents and guardians offer their support to a Sports for Champions UK (CIC) fundraising event, they are nurturing not only their children's immediate environments but also the bright futures of many rising athletes. Here is a breakdown of how your contributions make a significant difference:
For each fundraising event Sports For Champions looks to raise enough money to cover the costs that it takes to provide such an excellent service nationally. Once that goal is reached, surplus funds are allocated in a way that benefits both the school and our passionate athletes – 60% for the school’s continued growth and 40% contributing to the athlete fund.
At the core of the Sports For Champions UK (CIC) initiative is the Athlete Fund. Primarily, the fund aids schools in less economically privileged areas that might struggle with costs, ensuring that the administrative fee isn’t a barrier to vital opportunities. Additionally, it assists our dedicated athletes in moments of pressing need, whether it’s recovering from injuries, procuring advanced equipment, or embarking on warm-weather training camps. Our fundamental belief remains unwavering: no school should be compromised for its economic stance, and every promising athlete deserves a fair shot at excellence. Our commitment ensures no child or school is left behind due to circumstances beyond their control.
Challenges Athletes Face: Our partnering pro athletes and Team GB Olympians have a world of responsibilities on their shoulders. They juggle between a rigorous training schedule that demands over 35 hours a week and their personal commitments. This often leaves them with limited time and resources to focus on their careers, leading to financial constraints. Expenses for equipment, training, coaching, travel, and more pile up, making it a challenge for these athletes to perform at their best and represent Great Britain.
Why is this important?
Goetre Primary School is promoting health and wellbeing throughout the school and with the help of a visit from Lily Woodham, this will be enhanced as a school, they are also focussing on encouraging diversity and raising the aspirations of the pupils through sport.
Goetre Primary School will benefit from the money raised as they will be able to provide 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 Reading FC & Wales International Left Back Lily Woodham and to raise funds for key resources for Goetre 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.