Sport Relief 2014 – Raising the Awareness of Sports
Sport Relief 2014 – Raising the Awareness of Sports
Sports Relief is one of the biggest annual fundraising events in the UK. Its aim is to bring communities together and unite the nation in getting active and raising money that will change lives, not just in the UK but around the world.
The money raised every year is spent by Comic Relief, transforming the lives of people in real need, living in poverty and experiencing terrible disadvantages. In some cases this money is used to empower community groups who can spend it developing and improving facilities for disadvantaged children and families – a cause very close to the hearts of all those here at Charles Lawrence.
The money gives the poorest and most vulnerable young people a place to take part in activities, providing shelter for the homeless and protection from domestic abuse. It allows them to access healthcare and education in ways that would have been impossible before, promoting a healthy, safe and fulfilling lifestyle.
The money is also put to good use around the world, helping to create a fairer society and safer lives for people living in extreme poverty and fear. Radio One DJ Nick Grimshaw has recently completed a gruelling 12 hour cycle challenge, after visiting Mukuru slum in Nairobi. He got a chance to see how money raised by Sport Relief has already begun to help people there. He met orphaned children who survive by scavenging in the busy markets for food, and women who are forced to risk their lives, and the lives of their children, by giving birth at home because of the lack of basic healthcare facilities available.
Sports Relief have been working hard in areas like this to create facilities for these vulnerable people, building rehabilitation and education centres for the street girls and a health centre for pregnant women, all funded by donations made.
This year, more people and organisations have been involved than ever before. Sainsbury’s hosted the Sport Relief Games, which kicked off on Friday 21st March and ran until Sunday 23rd March 2014. They invited people from all over the country to get down to their nearest event and run, swim or cycle with other people in their community to raise money for Sports Relief. The Games we’re hugely successful and saw thousands of people turn out to take part at community sports centres, pools and multi-use games areas.
Celebrities and sports personalities have been doing their bit too, with Davina McCall’s epic 500 mile feat of endurance being one of the most memorable. This included a mile and a half open water swim across a frozen Lake Windermere, leaving her so weak she had to be hauled from the water and finishing the 7 day challenge by running a full marathon to arrive triumphant in London on February 14th. The entire epic challenge took Davina beyond breaking point, with many expressing genuine concern for her health and well-being, but despite this, she carried on, and raised an amazing amount for the charity.
The team at Charles Lawrence would like to extend a huge congratulations to all those in involved in Sport Relief 2014 – whether you’ve taken part in your own Sport Relief Challenge or donated to the cause, the money raised will make a huge difference to lives of so many people, both at home and abroad.
