Tennis marathon to honour Sadie, 9

A 12-hour tennis marathon in memory of a rising, young sporting star who died suddenly from anaphylactic shock last year will be held next month.

The event will be in aid of the Sadie Bristow Foundation, which was set up after the tragic nineyear-old’s death, and aims to raise awareness and funds for research into potentially fatal allergies.

Sadie, from Chartham Hatch, who was the top-ranked girl player of her age in the country, was on a day out with her family in Whitstable last August when she suffered the reaction and died, despite the efforts of emergency medics to save her.

The tragedy devastated her parents, who now hope it will not have been in vain and that money raised in her memory will support vital research and treatment facilities to help prevent future deaths.

Organised by tennis coach dad Stewart and mum Clare, the tournament takes place from 7am on Sunday, March 17, at the Polo Farm Sports Club in Littlebourne Road and Bridge Tennis Club, where Sadie began her tennis career.

Stewart and fellow coaches Jake, Nick and Ed will challenge different doubles partners in 25-minute tie breaks.

The most points won in a match by challengers at Bridge or Polo Farm will win tickets either to the player’s lounge at The Queen’s tennis club in London, or another summer tennis event.

It costs £15 per person to enter. To take part at Bridge, email clare@sadiebristowfoundation. org.uk, or at Polo Farm, email juniortennis@polofarm.org.

On the day at Bridge Tennis Club, there will also be family tennis sessions, a BBQ, an Anaphylaxis Campaign information stand and a raffle with prizes including a Royal Ballet School experience, shopping vouchers and dinner for two at a local restaurant.

On Wednesday, April 24, the Sadie Bristow Foundation will launch athletic tennis pro- grammes in local schools, starting at Bridge and Chartham.

They will include talks by former Olympic athletes and international tennis player Naomi Cavaday and demonstrations of the programs to be run in the schools supported by Kent Tennis, South East LTA and the LTA schools foundation.

Clare is also working with Zoe Williams, of My Allergy Kitchen, to set up a parent allergy support group called East Kent Allergy Mums, which plans to hold its first meeting in Canterbury next month.

Any parent or carer of someone with allergies is invited to attend the session, which is backed by the Anaphylaxis Campaign, share their experience and get advice from medical professionals. A date has yet to be fixed but will be announced shortly on the Sadie Bristow Foundation Facebook page.