Olympic gold medal hopeful Holly Bleasdale has donated the trainers she wore when she set a new British record to a charity auction.
Teaming up with other celebrities from the world of sport and entertainment, the 20-year-old pole vaulter from Chorley is backing the ‘Great Trainer Donation’ campaign.
The campaign is raising funds for Mary’s Meals, which sets up school feeding projects in some of the world’s poorest communities and is the official charity of the Tesco Great School Run.
Holly has given the trainers she wore when she set a new British pole vaulting record with a 4.53m vault at the British Under-23 Championships in 2011.
The former Chorley Parklands High School pupil’s famous pair of trainers are available until Wednesday through an eBay charity auction at www.greatschoolrun.org/GreatTrainerDonation.
Proceeds from the auction will go towards feeding more than 600,000 hungry children in places of education every single school day.
For as little as £10.70, Mary’s Meals can feed a child for an entire school year and the charity helps children in 16 different countries.
By providing one daily meal in a place of learning, chronically poor children are attracted to the classroom, where they can gain an education that can become their ladder out of poverty.
Children taking part in this year’s Tesco Great School Run have been petitioning their favourite celebrities to donate their trainers and help raise even more money for the charity.
The event is the world’s largest mass participation event for children, encouraging five to 11-year-olds and their families to get fit through healthy eating and exercise, by taking part in a two kilometre, 1.2 mile, fun run.
Last year, more than 1.2 million children took part across 4,500 schools.
Ruth Girardet, Tesco’s corporate responsibility and community director, said: “Now in its eighth year, the Tesco Great School Run programme aims to encourage healthy lifestyle choices for school children.
“This year we’re delighted to have Mary’s Meals as our official charity and are grateful for the support of the children and celebrities who have been fund-raising to help the charity carry on with their work.”
Abeer Macintyre, head of supporter care at Mary’s Meals, said education could have a life-changing effect on children and their communities, by providing an escape route out of abject poverty.
“With this in mind, we are delighted to be the official charity of this year’s Tesco Great School Run and to be benefiting from the Great Trainer Donation is a wonderful bonus.”
From http://www.lep.co.uk/news/local/holly-gives-record-breaking-trainers-to-charity-1-4719111
