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: Lucy Wallbank

What happens when a passion for sport meets a powerful vision for inclusivity? The answer, as Sport Structures has found, is a strong partnership that goes beyond fundraising and creates a tangible, sustainable impact.

In 2023, we began searching for our Charity Partner. This led us to The Richard Whitehead Foundation, an organisation founded by the inspirational British Paralympian Richard Whitehead MBE, rightly known for breaking barriers and inspiring others. The Foundation’s mission to empower disabled people to achieve their goals through sport echoed our own values and passion for creating positive change. It was clear this was a partnership with the potential to really make a difference.

Our previous article, “A Match Made in Purpose,” outlined some of the exciting ideas and projects that were ahead of us in our partnership journey. Now, several months in, the impact is clear, and it’s left a long-term positive impact within the disability community and in many individuals' lives. This partnering wasn’t about the money raised; it was about shaping pathways, creating opportunities and improving lives, together.


One of the first tangible demonstrations of our commitment came with the Birmingham Half Marathon in May 2023. Seven committed individuals of the Sport Structures team hit the pavements, some of whom had only ever run 5km before taking on this challenge, but this was not just for personal achievement, but for a shared purpose. Their collective efforts raised over £1,200, a key sum of money that directly supported the Foundation’s vital work. But the impact extended beyond the financial sums. It was a powerful demonstration of shared aims, a team uniting behind a cause that champions inclusivity in sport.

 
Sport Structures Half Marathon Team Post-Race

Less than a year later, the commitment expanded even further. For one of our then team members, Ryan Emery a half marathon simply wasn’t far enough. So, with a close personal connection to the Foundation, running in memory of a family member, Ryan took on the ultimate challenge: the 2024 London Marathon. His incredible efforts mirrored the previous fundraising success, adding a further £1,200 to the total raised for the Richard Whitehead Foundation. Ryan’s personal motivation highlighted the exact impact the Foundation has on individuals and families within our community. Ryan proudly displays his London Marathon medal in front of a brick building.

Ryan Emery Post London Marathon

June saw our team actively engaging with the Foundation’s yearly Run with Rich event in Nottingham, with four of our enthusiastic staff members volunteering and immersing themselves in the atmosphere. Gill Prince, one of our tutors, reflected on her experiences and noted, “I have done a lot of volunteering over the years, with many charities, but my day at the Run with Rich event in Nottingham was the most fulfilling. The inclusive format catered for the most diverse range of abilities, disabilities, and ages. As a volunteer, it was a privilege to witness the effort and enjoyment put in and gained by participants… I felt genuinely proud of everyone involved.” Gill’s commitment didn’t end there; she plans on volunteering again at the Great South Run, highlighting the lasting impact of experiencing the Foundation’s work firsthand.

Talking of Great Runs, October provided another powerful demonstration of our partnership in action. Following on from the joys that were of the Birmingham Half Marathon, one of our then Senior Project Officers, Mark Knight, took the next step and became a support runner for the first time. This wasn’t just about completing a race; it was about creating a genuine connection, in which Mark noted, “The individual I was supporting, supported me as much as I supported him, as he helped me to a 10km PB!” Communication was key, and Mark highlighted the importance of understanding and responding to the specific needs of his running partner. This run alone showcased how sport can go beyond physical boundaries when empathy and understanding are placed at the forefront.

Mark (left) as a Support Runner

Following along the theme of support runners and going beyond the high-profile running events, our partnership has led to the building of sustainable groundwork for the Richard Whitehead Foundation. Recognising the fundamental need for skilled support runners, Sport Structures developed an online training course for volunteers. Our team created accessible and engaging content, ensuring that future support runners gained the knowledge and strategies needed to successfully assist individuals with a range of disabilities. Julie Hayton, Programme Manager at the Richard Whitehead Foundation, praised the online course, saying, “I just wanted to say a massive thank you – this is amazing! Superstars, all of you.” This course is not a one-off; it’s a resource that will continue to empower volunteers and increase the reach of the Foundation’s Supported Runners project for future events, creating a lasting legacy of support.


Sport Structures extends thanks to Paul Brackley, who was pivotal in initiating the partnership and making our first fundraising initiative and volunteer opportunities possible and also gratefully acknowledges Penny Sturgess, CEO of the Richard Whitehead Foundation, for her role in ensuring its smooth and far-reaching impact. Penny commented, “This has been a truly impactful partnership. Not only have Sport Structures employees raised a significant amount to support our work, but we now have an easy-to-access online training course, which will enable us to train more volunteers and expand our Supported Runner Programme. Thank you to everyone at Sport Structures who has been involved in making this partnership a success.”

The impact of our combined efforts is significant. To date, Sport Structures' fundraising initiatives, including marathons, half marathons, cake sales, raffles, and invaluable in-kind work, have generated a total value of £6,436 for the Richard Whitehead Foundation. This financial contribution directly fuels their programmes and enables them to reach more individuals. Furthermore, the online support runner course has already seen 26 volunteers successfully complete their training and act as support runners at events across England, signifying the immediate and tangible outcomes of our collaborative work, which is truly brilliant.

Sport Structures CEO, Kath Percival summarised the significance of this partnership, saying, “We believe that our work should make a meaningful difference in the communities that need it most. That’s why partnering with the Foundation felt like a natural alignment. We admire the incredible work the Foundation does, and it’s been very inspiring to hear the stories of how it has enriched the lives of disabled people. We’ve thoroughly valued both the practical and developmental elements of this partnership, and we sincerely hope that the funds we have raised, along with the resources provided, will continue to create lasting benefits for the disability community”.

The impact of the partnership resonates considerably with Richard Whitehead MBE himself. Reflecting, he shared, “You’ve done some work that not only helps disabled people and volunteers but has also left and leaves a lasting legacy on the community, which is what I and the Foundation are all about, that sustainable legacy” Richard continued his thanks via the video previewed below. 

 

 

Together with the Richard Whitehead Foundation, we didn’t just run races; we built a legacy of opportunity, one step, one volunteer, and one empowered individual at a time.