Seven Ipswich businesses have been praised by a national charity for the contribution they are making to sport in Suffolk.
Pound Gates Chartered Insurance Brokers, Ensors Chartered Accountants, Handelsbanken, Ellisons Solicitors, Concertus, StrategiQ and Picasso HR have been singled out for praise by SportsAid, after another hugely successful fundraising lunch.
The ‘magnificent seven’, as they’ve been dubbed, jointly sponsor the Ipswich Sporting Lunch Club, which hosts twice-yearly lunches at Wherstead Park in Ipswich to raise money for the charity.
The latest event saw 240 local business people enjoy lunch and hear from Olympic Skeleton Bob Gold Medalist Amy Williams MBE whilst raising much needed funding for SportsAid in Suffolk.
Roger Fennemore, Regional Director of SportsAid, commented “The seven businesses behind the Ipswich Sporting Lunch Club are making a massive difference to lives of talented up and coming young sportsmen and women from across Suffolk.”
“SportsAid helps young athletes to overcome the financial obstacles they face in their bid to become Britain’s next generation of Olympians, Paralympians and world champions. The cost of their sport is one of their greatest challenges and despite already representing Great Britain at competitions all over the world, most receive no funding beyond what SportsAid provides.”
“Without the contribution that businesses like this make to our fundraising efforts we wouldn’t be able to help many of these super talented young people from Suffolk. I would therefore like to extend a huge vote of thanks to them all and to everybody that supports the lunches for the tremendous contribution they are making.”
Martin Fish from Handelsbanken, speaking on behalf of the sponsors, said “It is a real pleasure to support such a great charity. Without SportsAid, many of these athletes would face a hard choice over whether or not to continue training and competing. As local businesses, we are delighted to be able to play our part and help local young people to achieve their sporting dreams.”
The event also saw SportsAid present a grant to Ipswich Basketball star Maya Price. Price represented Great Britain Under 18 Women at the European Championships last month, where she helped them to an excellent 4th placed finish, out of 24 participating nations.
British Basketball consider her to be a top prospect for the future. Head Coach Vanessa Ellis said ‘Maya has tremendous potential due to her attitude and physical ability. With continued work she should be able to secure a place in the GB U20 team’.
The next Ipswich Sporting Lunch Club event takes place on 23rd February 2018 at Wherstead Park. The guest speaker will be Peter Shilton, the most capped England footballer of all time. For further information and to book a table contact Rob Appleton at Pound Gates on 01473 346 009, rob.appleton@poundgates.com.
