Sports Relief 2020
On Friday 14th April, in the spirit of the UK charity Sports Relief, I taught over 300 children how to jump rope. I taught them how to have fun whilst exercising and (hopefully) inspired a little confidence along the way.
Sports Relief is a UK charity which uses sport to help not only raise awareness around the importance of exercise but also raise money to support people living incredibly tough lives in the UK and around the world. Since the last Sports Relief in 2018, the charity has invested a whopping £82 million. And this was well spent. They focused on improving mental health, since every year 450 million people worldwide experience mental health problems. They also focused on helping children survive and thrive, tackling the challenge of children growing up in poverty and neglect every year.
At South Avenue Primary School, where I host weekly after-school clubs, I led 13 groups introducing every pupil, from aged 4 to 10, to the different aspects of the sport of jump rope. Some tried Double Dutch and some tried single-rope freestyle, but everyone had fun and was engaged throughout.
Throughout the day, the teachers & I kept on the lookout for pupils in each class that showed a marked increase in confidence and participation. Then, at the end of the day during the end-of-day assembly, I awarded each of these pupils with a certificate, thunders of applause and a free beaded rope hand-built with a bead colour of their choice.
In the final moments of the day after I gave a speech on inspiring confidence, the importance of mental health, my fitness journey with jump rope and how exercise can (and should) be fun. So much fun came out of today and I’m so honoured to have gotten the chance to spend the day with each and every one of the children at South Avenue Primary School.
Today was equally one of the most rewarding days of my life so far; I stood up in front of over 300 little faces, at the very same primary school I went to 13 years ago and spoke about something very close to my heart. If you’d have told me when I was their age, that I’d be in this position today - a position to inspire and motivate and educate - I’d have not believed you. Yet, life has a way of surprising you.
After my speech, I then proceeded to do a choreographed freestyle routine. I had been demonstrating a handful of freestyle skill throughout the day, but I kept the jump rope handstand (known as The Frog) a secret until the final performance. And it’s safe to say their reaction was beautiful.
It’s my mission to get in front of as many children in as many schools as I can across the UK and use jump rope to showcase how much fun fitness can be, and how confidence can be grown from even the most unexpected of places.
If I even change the life of one child through what I do, be it the physical or mental health gains or the inspiration to follow their dreams and work hard for them, then it’ll be worth it.