Five SportsAid handball players selected for Team GB
21 Jun 2012
Five of the 14 members of Great Britain’s first ever Olympic handball team have had SportsAid’s support during their careers we are pleased to confirm today – including four athletes who have received SportsAid Awards this year, one of whom is team captain Lynn McCafferty.
Lynn wrote to SportsAid last month to say, “I received my SportsAid grant [sic] today, thank you very very much, it means a lot and will help me immensely for the last few months until the Games. As you can imagine training is getting extremely intense but also very exciting as we are progressing as a team every day.”
The team was announced by the British Olympic Association on June 21 and takes the number of athletes in Team GB who have received SportsAid Awards to 156 – which is 60% of the total (262). The five SportsAid athletes added today are:
- Holly Lam-Moores – SportsAid Award 2012 from Lloyds TSB (Local Heroes)
- Kathryn Fudge – SportsAid Award 2012 from GLL Sports Foundation
- Kelsi Fairbrother – SportsAid Award 2009
- Louise Jukes – SportsAid Award 2012
- Lynn McCafferty – SportsAid Award 2012 from Lloyds TSB (Local Heroes)
On receiving her latest SportsAid Award, Holly Lam-Moores said, “I have been receiving support form SportsAid since 2006 and it has been a massive help, meaning I am able to live and play handball at a high level in Denmark, keeping my Olympic hopes a reality.”
Speaking about the athletes’ SportsAid Awards, British Handball’s Performance Director Lorraine Brown said, “It is wonderful news for both players, which is very much deserving.
"As graduates of the British Handball Academy they have worked extremely hard to achieve the level they are now playing at and I know they will continue to gain valuable competitive experience and look to make significant contributions in their new club’s next season. More and more, we are seeing British handballers playing and making a positive impact in leagues across Europe.
"This can only enhance the performance level of GB teams as we work towards competing and making a competitive impact at the London 2012 Olympic Games.”
It is great to know the team’s aspiration to compete at London 2012 has been realised and SportsAid would like to congratulate all the athletes on their selection. We are looking forward to seeing you in action!
Photo: British handball players celebrate a penalty goal during a preliminary match against Angola in the Olympic test event series, London Handball Cup, London, November 2011. Supplied by Action Images.
SportsAid's Patron
As SportsAid’s patron, Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge is helping to shine a light on the achievements and potential of young athletes throughout the UK – an inspiring generation who one day hope to represent the nation at the Olympic or Paralympic Games. SportsAid alumnus Sir Chris Hoy welcomed the patronage by saying, “SportsAid played an important role when I was starting out so I know what a huge boost this will be to the young sportsmen and women the charity helps today. As patron Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge will give them the profile they deserve.”
