Fund to help athletes out of the blocks
M.E.N. WILL HIGHLIGHT BUDDING SPORTING STARS TO BE HELPED BY COACHING CASH
A FUND has been launched to provide support for budding sports stars and help them go the extra mile.
The Trafford Active Fund will get £1 of every entry fee from a trio of top Manchester distance runs before cash awards are distributed to aspiring athletes who are under 18 and live in Trafford.
The Manchester Evening News has agreed to support the scheme by profiling some of those who are nominated for awards, which will help individual athletes pay for coaching and equipment.
The fund will get £1 of the entry fee from each participant in next year’s ASICS Greater Manchester Marathon, the 10k and Manchester Half Marathon on October 15.
M.E.N. Media has agreed to support Xtra Mile Events, the Trafford-based company which manages all three events, by featuring profiles of nominated athletes, projects and grant winners in the Manchester Evening News and on our website. Sarah Bennett, race director of the Greater Manchester Marathon, said: “We are really excited that the Manchester Evening News will be showcasing some of the remarkable stories behind the beneficiaries of the Trafford Active Fund.
“£7,000 of grants have already been awarded with a further £40,000 in the fund to be considered for grant awards.
“The fund has been instrumental in helping young athletes succeed in their chosen sports since it was launched by Xtra Mile Events and this partnership with M.E.N. Media will only increase the benefits of the programme further.”
A senior member of the M.E.N. Media editorial team will sit on the judging panel.
Rob Irvine, editor-in-chief of the Manchester Evening News, said: “Involvement in sport can bring many benefits to local communities which is why we are helping to raise the profile of the Trafford Active Fund.”
Nominations will be officially launched at the Trafford Sports Awards 2016-2017 which will be held on September 8 at Hotel Football, next to Old Trafford stadium.
For more details log on to http:// xtramileevents.com/