To actually get youngsters leading healthier and active lifestyles

Walsall based Terry, founder of Angling Link which became the British Disabled Angling Association (BDAA), joins Tessa Sanderson OBE, Gillian Clark MBE, and more than one hundred other British athletes attending a special reception at the City of Manchester Stadium on Saturday 15th June. The reception is celebrating the recent success of Sport England’s Sporting Champions initiative and will also sign up new athletes who are interested in taking part in its programme of school visits, to promote the values of sport to young people. Tessa Sanderson OBE explained, “The Sporting Champions programme is based on the simple belief that meeting and listening to real champions will encourage young people to get involved with sport.” The initiative is delivered through a programme of visits to schools, messages of support and the Sporting Champions website. To date, include Sir Steve Redgrave CBE, Jonathan Edwards CBE, Denise Lewis OBE, Allison Curbishley, Sarah Bailey MBE, Stephanie Cook MBE, Calum Giles and Jayant Mistry. It is hoped that the number of Sporting Champions will increase to 300 by the end of the year with the opportunity of reaching over 58,000 children and providing them with the chance to meet a real champion. BDAA secretary Terry Moseley, a former England International who has won team bronze in the World Disabled Championships, is naturally delighted to represent angling in the initiative, “To be selected to represent the sport in such illustrious company gives myself and the BDAA the opportunity to encourage more youngsters to go fishing and join in an outdoor activity that will benefit their health and awareness of the countryside. It is also further recognition that angling is being recognised as a mainstream sport, and further evidence that the work of the BDAA is gaining increasing respect.” Olympic Gold Medalist and Sporting Champion, Stephanie Cook MBE shared her enthusiasm for the initiative, ” It’s all about encouraging young people to take part in sport and to have fun at doing it. It’s also a crucial part of Sport England’s drive to improve the health of the nation. To actually get youngsters leading healthier and active lifestyles.” The Sporting Champions reception will be held at the City of Manchester Stadium, the centrepiece of the Commonwealth on Saturday 15th June, starting at 5.15pm. Athletes at the reception will be introduced to the scheme and will have the opportunity to sign up and become Sporting Champions themselves.