Business leaders, sports professionals and the media joined with former, current and potential Olympic and Paralympic stars at the launch of the Suffolk SportsAid Foundation at the Suffolk Yacht harbour Club at Levington.

The Foundations sole purpose is to raise money to support Suffolk's talented sportsmen and women to achieve their sporting goals.

The first recipients of grants from the Suffolk SportsAid Foundation were Ellis Jackson, a swimmer from Lowestoft and Joseph Bloomfield, an athlete from Ipswich.


Press Release:

Former Olympians and Paralympians support SportsAid Foundation Launch

National 2012 Day (20 December 2007) marks the official launch of the Suffolk SportsAid Foundation.

The launch takes place at the Harbour Room, Suffolk Yacht Harbour, Levington near Ipswich. Supporting the event will be former Olympians Paul Evans and Stan Cox plus Paralympians Kevin Curtis, Hugh Stewart and Michael Hervey-Murray. Also attending will be local potential Olympians Louise Jukes (Handball International) and Michael Peart (Archery International), five times world shooting champion John Bidwell plus up and coming stars Hamish Stone (sailing) and Rebecca Wetten (swimming) who are both previous SportsAid grant recipients.

The Foundation has been established to support Suffolk's talented sportsmen and women to achieve their sporting goals. Its sole purpose is to raise money to help the next generation of Suffolk's athletes to achieve on the national, international and world stage. SportsAid is the national charity for sports people and is the only UK charity directly helping talented young British sportsmen and women. Their research identifies that on average each athlete spends nearly £5,000 per year on equipment, training, travelling and all of the other essentials that are required for competing at the top level.

Not only will the event at Levington signal the launch of the Suffolk SportsAid Foundation, it will also mark the launch of the inaugural fundraising lunch on February 8th 2008 when Mr Derek Redmond, World, European and Commonwealth Gold Medalist will be guest speaker. Thursday's event will see details of an exciting business support package revealed, plus 2 of Suffolk's aspiring champions recognised with grants, Ellis Jackson (swimming) and Joseph Bloomfield (athletics).

Adam Baker, Suffolk Project Manager for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, said "my role is all about helping Suffolk to benefit from the London 2012 Games not only in the run-up to and during the Games themselves but also long after the Games have been staged. The Suffolk SportsAid Foundation is great news for sport in Suffolk because it will provide support for talented athletes for many years to come."

Cllr Lisa Chambers, Portfolio Holder for Economic and Cultural Development at Suffolk County Council commented "the Suffolk SportsAid Foundation is a great way for local businesses to get behind Suffolk's aspiring champions. If we work together and collectively 'rise to the challenge' the Foundation can make a really positive impact on the sporting landscape of the county".

For more information about this event and photo opportunities please call Adam Baker on 01473 260821, 07894 598296 or email adam.baker@acs.suffolkcc.gov.uk