Duchess of Cambridge Sends Message of Support for SportsAid Week

The Duchess of Cambridge has sent a message of support as SportsAid Week begins.

SportsAid is a charity that helps young athletes pursue their goals to become Olympians, Paralympians, and world champions via financial support. Founded in 1976, the charity helps young people at the “very start of their journey towards becoming the next generation of sporting heroes.

“The most talented young athletes throughout the United Kingdom show great levels of commitment and dedication as they aim to bring sporting success to our country in future years. The early part of this journey is a challenging one. Many of the athletes are still in education and reliant on their family for all the support a young sportsperson needs to allow them to train and compete,” reads the beginning of the Duchess’s message.

“SportsAid supports over 1,000 athletes every year from more than 60 different sports, and as Patron, I am very proud of the impact SportsAid has on these young people, helping to relieve the different pressures they each may face, while also giving them the self-belief and motivation to continue to pursue their ambitions.

“This year’s SportsAid Week will be an exciting few days and a great opportunity for everyone to show their support for our next generation of athletes.”

SportsAid Week is a new initiative for the charity, started last year to mark its 40th anniversary. All told, the charity raised £40,000 for its youth athletes. In the 2016-17 year, SportsAid helped 1,106 athletes between the ages of 12 and 18. Combined, 150 SportsAid alumni won medals at the Rio Olympics and Paralympics last summer.

Famous SportsAid alumni include Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill, Sir Steve Redgrave, Sir Mo Farah, and Dame Katherine Grainger.

SportsAid Week kicked off 25 September and wraps up 1 October.

The Duchess of Cambridge has been Patron of SportsAid since 2013.