Olympic gymnast Louis Smith MBE captivated an audience of 168 guests at Venue 16 in Ipswich at the most recent SportsAid Eastern event.
He shared his journey of resilience, dedication, and overcoming challenges to reach the top of his sport – all in support of SportsAid Eastern’s mission to champion the next generation of athletes.
Power of sport and community
Hosted by SportsAid Eastern and Ellisons Solicitors, the event brought together business leaders from across Suffolk for an afternoon of inspiration and impact, celebrating the power of sport and community. Guests heard first-hand from Louis Smith MBE, one of Team GB’s most decorated gymnasts, whose raw and powerful talk highlighted the sacrifices and mindset required to achieve Olympic success.
The spotlight was also on rising triathlon talent Darcy Gladwell, this event’s beneficiary. A driven and determined young triathlete, Darcy is on a clear trajectory toward elite-level competition. Events like this help provide financial backing to athletes like Darcy, who are early in their sporting careers but showing outstanding promise.
Backing young athletes
All funds raised on the day will go directly to SportsAid Eastern, a charity that supports talented young athletes who are achieving national rankings but do not yet qualify for National Lottery funding, many of whom rely heavily on their families to pursue their sporting goals.
SportsAid Eastern extends sincere thanks to its Ipswich sponsors and partners, whose generosity and commitment made the event possible: Becketts, Pound Gates, Ensors, Ellisons Solicitors, Handelsbanken, StrategiQ, and Fenn Wright.
“Having Louis speak so openly and honestly about his journey was truly inspiring – his story resonated with everyone in the room. And to see the community come together to back young athletes like Darcy is exactly what SportsAid is all about,” said Jane Horridge, Director, of SportsAid Eastern.
