We need an organization like SportsAid.

http://www.sportsaid.org.uk

SportsAid is the charity for sports people, helping the next generation of young British sportsmen and women to succeed. SportsAid is the first organisation that says “yes” to a talented young athlete. We offer help at the start of the journey, when, more often than not, Mum and Dad are the solitary sponsor. At that stage, independent recognition and financial assistance makes a huge difference.

Video above: Sports Aid athletes Steve Backley, Ashia Hansen, Karen Pickering, Iwan Thomas, Henrietta Kodilinye-Sims & Jeffery Lawal-Balogun run in Betfair-sponsored event started by MP Kate Hoey

If the recent interviews of our SEA Games heroes I did recently is an indicators, it tells of the same story, athletes and coaches who are in it for the passion of the sport, despite lacking the financial support.

I think enough is enough, how many more of our promising and current high performance athletes do we want to fall by the wayside, becoming disillusioned with no support or recognition.

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These athletes are not asking for a handout, but knowing you can fall back on your sponsors for help and aid, it goes a long way, as it will for now be suffice enough from our athletes quitting the sport, be it for the lure of career advancement and opportunities outside of athletics.

If it means making a difference in their sporting life by means of direct funding to athletes and coaches, then so be it … I’m all for it.