Polegate Primary School are hosting an inspirational workshop with Team GB Heptathlete Holly Mills. Holly 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!
Polegate School is a very happy and welcoming school with a staff team that is fantastic- nurturing and inspirational.
Who's Coming?
How I started:
I started athletics at the age of eight years old. I was competing at the school’s sports day, and I was very successful, so another parent spoke to my dad and recommended that I go to the local athletics club. I really enjoyed it as I love the independent side of it and that it’s so quantifiable being whoever crosses the line first, wins, or whoever jumps the furthest wins!
My Greatest Achievement:
My greatest achievement is either my fourth place at the World Indoors, or my fourth place at the Commonwealth Games. I am incredibly proud of these feats as I started the Heptathlon event at the age of 18, which is a lot later than most other people so it’s taking time to develop the right motor skills to begin perfecting each event. I am excited to continue honing my skills and chipping away at my development!
My Greatest Challenge:
My greatest challenge was tearing my achilles at the Commonwealth Games holding camp along with a small hamstring injury too. I competed in the Commonwealth Games, and we re-evaluated the injury following the Commonwealth’s and unfortunately found out that this small Achilles injury was actually much larger, meaning I had to attend rehab across winter and continue training to heal this big injury. Following this rehabilitation, in the week leading up to the 2023 World Cup, I suffered a huge Hamstring tear during training which has left me out of athletics until at least Christmas of 2023!
My Hobbies:
Outside of athletics I love to cook, creating recipes, mixing up my meals, and always posting my meals to my Instagram! I also love reading, I read a lot of feminist literature, psychology and mindset, and then some non-fiction, loving the work by Bernadine Everisto! Going out for coffee with friends is a cornerstone of my leisure time as I don’t get the time to do it anywhere near as much as I’d like!
My Future Aspirations:
In the future I hope to score a gold medal in each of the four major championships. So these are the Olympics, World Championships, European Championships, and the Commonwealth Games. It would also be amazing to join the 5000 point club in the indoor Pentathlon, and get into the 7000 point club in the Heptathlon!
Who are Sports For Champions?
Sports For Champions UK (CIC) in partnership with Polegate 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.
Polegate Primary School will be receiving an inspirational visit from Team GB Heptathlete Holly Mills on the 20th of November 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?
Polegate Primary School is promoting health and wellbeing throughout the school and with the help of a visit from Holly Mills, this will be enhanced as a school, they are also focussing on encouraging diversity and raising the aspirations of the pupils through sport.
Polegate 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 Team GB Heptathlete Holly Mills and to raise funds for key resources for Polegate 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.