The club with Ernest Colin Brace OBE in the centre
Wales’ largest family bakery has helped a recently reformed Athletics Club with funding for brand new training t-shirts for their members who range from 4 years to 16 years old.
Brace’s Bread, founded in Pontllanfraith 112 years ago, donated £800 to Rhymney Valley Athletics Club, who reformed this May after they disbanded 5 years ago.
The club, who were originally established in the 1970s, have recently reformed and train every Thursday evening at Blackwood Comprehensive School with over 140 children on their register and over 70 members.
The club received a £1200 Community Chest Grant from Sport Wales, after applying with support from Sport Caerphilly, which has gone towards equipment and coaching qualifications for parents who are keen to get involved to sustain the club.
Ruth Powell, Club Chairman, commented: “A junior athletics club was greatly needed in Caerphilly county borough and it has been overwhelming for us all, just how many children have attended with hardly any advertising. We have built a passionate coaching team of 15 parents with one even being grandparent. We are all passionate about athletics and come from sporting backgrounds with runners from the local Islwyn Running Club and two having attended the original, very successful, club as junior athletes. So many have contributed to launching this club and we couldn’t have done it without a great team effort. We are all very excited for what the future holds for the local children and this club.”
Ernest Colin Brace OBE, Chairman of Brace’s Bread, and Grandson of the founder of the bakery visited the club to see the T-Shirts that his generous donation had funded. He commented, “We sponsor a lot of worthy projects and this club enables children to take part in an activity, and gives them a feeling of enjoyment of sport which I feel is very important.”
Cllr Dave Poole, Cabinet Member for Community and Leisure Services, commented, “I am thrilled that this club has been able to reform thanks to the hard work of the local community, Welsh Athletics and our Sport Development Team. Community sport clubs are so important to generating enjoyment of sport among young people, and allow them to get involved with their friends and family supporting them.”
Rhymney Valley Athletics Club train every Thursday evening at Blackwood Comprehensive School from 6-8pm. Follow them on twitter @RhymneyValley or on Facebook by searching for Rhymney Valley Athletic Club to find out more.
