Horton Grange Primary School are excited to be hosting an inspirational workshop with Beijing 2021 Winter Olympian Mica McNeill. Mica 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!
"Horton Grange Primary School is where children aged 2 to 11 enjoy their lessons and flourish in a safe and happy environment.each day."
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 Sports For Champions?
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 young people developing in all walks of life as healthy, [pro] active community-minded participants in society.
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.
Horton Grange Primary School will be receiving an inspirational visit from Beijing 2021 Winter Olympian Mica McNeill, on the the 26th of June 2024 and we need your support!
The pupils will benefit from physical activity through our fitness circuit, 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?
Horton Grange Primary School is promoting health and wellbeing throughout the school and with the help of a visit from Mica McNeill, this will be enhanced across all year groups and staff, they are also focussing on encouraging diversity and raising the aspirations of the pupils through sport.
Horton Grange Primary School will benefit from the money raised as they will be able to provide new equipment, fund opportunities for the children, and more.
How can you help?
We're asking all parents to help make it a memorable event for the pupils with the help of Beijing 2021 Winter Olympian Mica McNeill, to raise funds for key resources for Horton Grange 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.