A dedicated young swimmer, a talented basketball player, a promising cross-country runner and a cyclist who shares her skills with others are among the latest recipients of Inspire Awards from the Joe Humphries Trust (JHMT).
Inspire Awards are small grants handed out to young people by local charity the JHMT to help them achieve their goals.
Twenty-year-old Megan Morrison from Quorn in Leicestershire is looking to be in the best possible shape for several open meets in 2019, including the British Swimming Championships and the British Summer Nationals in Glasgow.
Megan has been swimming since she was five, and impressed teachers with her quick progress. She won her first County Championships aged nine and was selected for the ASA England development programme in 2010. She now swims with Loughborough University, competing in many international meets and training camps abroad.
Megan was awarded £200 from the Inspire Awards fund and says:
“The Inspire grants have supported me for the last two years. I am very grateful for the funding as it helps towards the cost of international meets. I would not be able to pursue my dream without the help of grants like this one.”
Jacob Farrington, 16, from Carlton in Leicestershire, is a key member of Loughborough College’s basketball team and part of the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme.
“I’ve been playing basketball since I was 11 years old for Leicester Riders and now Loughborough College,”
he says.
“It’s a great game, fast, high-scoring and very disciplined and needs good fitness and coordination. It can be played by everyone for fun and more seriously in competition.”
Jacob’s £200 Inspire Award will help him as he travels across the country to compete.
“The Inspire award means a lot to me as it will really help towards developing my skills in basketball and in my academic studies,” he says.
Cross-country running is 17-year-old Hannah Seager’s passion. Hannah, from Loughborough, is looking forward to making her mark at national events across the UK. She’s been taking part in cross-country events since primary school and placed third in the National English Championships in 2014, meaning she qualified to represent England at an international level. She finished eighth v Ireland and proudly gained her first England vest.
Hannah says:
“Getting this £150 grant is a privilege and will be really helpful in the coming months of cross country season. The money will go towards travel expenses and hotel costs for the national events which are held all around the UK. This is a huge help!”
Rebecca Laurel is 19 years old, from Leicester and studying civil engineering at university. Having competed in many bike disciplines over many years, she has now turned her attention to coaching a new generation of young cyclists. Rebecca has also recently been involved in the #OneInaMillion campaign, which aims to close the gender gap in cycling and encourage a million more women to ride bikes.
Rebecca says:
“When I became too old to ride the children’s sessions, I decided that I would turn to coaching to stay involved in an environment I loved. I have been involved in many great opportunities and have helped a wide range of abilities, from children learning to how to ride to young riders winning races.
“I am delighted to receive a £250 Inspire award. It will enable me to continue on the coaching pathway and help me to give more children the opportunity to ride bikes.”
The JHMT set up the Inspire Awards in memory of Joe Humphries, 14, who sadly never got to achieve his goals.
Joe died of sudden arrhythmic death syndrome (SADS) in October 2012, while out jogging near his Rothley home. This group of genetic heart conditions can strike without any warning, in seemingly fit and healthy children and young adults.
Since Joe’s death, his family and friends formed the JHMT to campaign tirelessly for better understanding and awareness of SADS, plus more CPR training and defibrillators.
Simon Taylor, JHMT lead on the Inspire Awards, said:
“We are delighted to support these young people with these awards. They all demonstrate extraordinary dedication, willpower and effort and are determined to make the most of their skills, as well as helping others. What they perhaps don’t realise is just how inspiring they are to others – who knows what other young people might achieve with role models like these? My sincere congratulations go to them all.”
