Staff at the March and Wisbech branches of the Nottingham Building Society (The Nottingham) and Harrison Murray are rolling out the red carpet for the charity SportsAid.
The branches have teamed up with The Light Cinema in Wisbech to host a fundraising showing of the film ‘Nut Job 2’. The event is hoped to raise around £300 to help local swimming star Anya Falkus.
The team have sponsored Anya through charity SportsAid for almost three years, raising funds to assist with the costs of her travel and training for competitions.
The 15-year-old from Wisbech has been swimming since the age of four and after losing her sight at the age of eight, joined the East of England para-squad. A regular on the regional and national podiums, Anya dreams of competing at the Paralympics.
Building society branch manager Alan Cope said: “We are thrilled to be involved with this initiative to help someone that is part of our local community.
“The main barriers to progression of professional athletes is often the high costs of travel and training so particularly value the support of our local community. Events like this are essential for raising funds to help Anya on her journey.”
Tickets for ‘Nut Job 2’ cost £5 and can be bought from the Wisbech and March branches of Nottingham Building Society. As well as the film, there will be face painters, a cake sale and a visit from Robin Hood.
The Nottingham has provided SportsAid awards to 50 athletes this year across a range of sports. Anya is joined in Cambridgeshire by up-and-coming England boxer Shona Whitwell (19) from Bluntisham who is in training for Tokyo 2020.
Tim Lawler, chief executive of SportsAid, said: “We are delighted to see our relationship with The Nottingham continue to grow. They are helping more athletes in more ways in 2017.
“The support the athletes receive helps them to cover certain costs, and provides them with an extra motivational boost having been identified among the country’s brightest sporting prospects.”
For more information on the scheme visit www.thenottingham.com
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