St Mary's CofE Primary School are excited to be hosting an inspirational workshop with Birmingham City Women's Footballer Martha Harris. Martha 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!
At St. Mary’s Church of England Primary School, they aim to make a difference to the life of every child, by believing that every child should have a dream!
Who's Coming?
How I Started
I come from a very athletic family. My dad used to coach football, and my other siblings also loved football! I played alongside my twin for the school football team and when I eventually moved into a professional setting I joined alongside my sister too which I think made me more competitive, but also allowed me to settle in quickly!
My Greatest Achievement
My greatest achievement is winning the PFA young player of the year award. Along with winning the WSL, I was over the moon to have won the league in my maiden season, but it was surreal to step up and accept the young player of the year award in front of my family. This was my first season in the league, and I had joined Liverpool so I was playing against and alongside players I had looked up to for years, and learning from them too!
My Greatest Challenge
My greatest challenge has been overcoming injury. I had a knee operation in September after I tore my LCL ligament, the recovery process took from September to mid-January, and this was one of the easier recoveries because coming into it I had experienced injuries like this before and I knew that there would eventually be a time when I could train again. I was left in a knee brace and crutches for six weeks following the op, and the recovery period proceeding that was difficult as I continued to have issues with the muscle.
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 enjoy spending time with family and friends, catching up on series’ I have missed out on, cooking different meals and I am also learning the Keyboard at the moment!
My Future goals
In Football I would love to win the league again and hopefully another personal award. After my career in Football comes to an end I want to stay in sports and become a physiotherapist.
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.
St Mary's CofE Primary School will be receiving an inspirational visit from renowned Birmingham City Women's Footballer Martha Harris on the 26th of February 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?
St Mary's CofE Primary School is promoting health and wellbeing throughout the school and with the help of a visit from Martha Harris, 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.
St Mary's CofE 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 Birmingham City Women's Footballer Martha Harris and to raise funds for key resources for St Mary's CofE 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.