Coaches tackling a 10k to raise funds for local disability sessions
Three football coaches who deliver regular sessions for players with a disability are tackling a 10k run to raise funds for Albion in the Community (AITC).
Paul Brackley, Tyler Henshaw, and Kenny Moor, all work for AITC, the official charity of Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club and the area’s largest provider of football opportunities for people with a disability.
It currently runs upwards of 30 regular sessions across Sussex, attended by more than 500 players, each of whom have a disability. Sessions range from pan-disability football clubs held at venues in Brighton, Worthing, Eastbourne, Horsham, Burgess Hill, and Chichester, to a growing number of disability-specific sessions, including many, such as the fortnightly session for people with autism, which take place at the American Express Elite Football Performance Centre in Lancing.
Each session costs between £2,500 and £5,000 a year to run, meaning fundraising efforts like those being taken on by the three AITC coaches are incredibly important.
And in an attempt to raise awareness of some of the challenges faced by their players, the coaches will be completing the BM10K on 14 April either blindfolded, in a wheelchair, or wearing headphones which block out sound.
Paul Brackley, AITC’s disability manager, had the idea and recruited his colleagues to join him. He said: “Providing our players with the chance to play the sport they love is integral to everything we do at AITC.
“As well as the significant physical benefits of playing regular sport, many of our players benefit just as much from the positive impact our sessions can have on their mental wellbeing. Being part of a team, learning new skills and making new friends can really boost people’s confidence.
“Myself, Tyler and Kenny are all aware of the many barriers which our participants face on a daily basis and we wanted to do something which not only raised money to help fund our sessions, but also raise awareness of some of those challenges.”
The coaches, who are among more than 30 people taking part in the BM10K for AITC, can be sponsored online at: www.justgiving.com/campaign/AITCDisabilityChallenge.
AITC still has free BM10K places available for anyone looking to raise more than £100 for its work. For more information on AITC’s BM10K places, or its other fundraising events, email: fundraising@bhafcfoundation.org.uk.