STARS KICK OFF CAMPAIGN
The Sainsbury's Sport Relief Mile is back in Wales this Spring and hosting flagship Mile events in both Swansea and Cardiff with many local events taking place across the country from the Isle of Anglesey to Wrexham - people can register to take part from today at sportrelief.com as the campaign launches across the UK. Famous faces from the worlds of sport and entertainment such as Gethin Jones, Colin Jackson, Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson, the Spice Girls, Davina McCall, Alan Shearer, James Cracknell and Mark Ramprakash are all lending their support to this year’s campaign.
Sport Relief 2008 is all about challenging yourself, friends, family and colleagues to do something sporty and raise cash. The ultimate challenge for the public is doing the Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Mile where hundreds of thousands of people across the UK will take to the streets and go the distance for Sport Relief.
Following the huge success of the flagship Mile events in 2006, the 2008 Mile will take place on Sunday 16th March. Roald Dahl Plass will play host to the Cardiff Mile event while Swansea Milers will be able enjoy fabulous views of marina from the route down at the National Waterfront Museum. Last time a staggering 400,000 men, women and children did a Mile for Sport Relief – including Prince William who ran at Sandhurst, giving his royal seal of approval. Welsh Milers can choose to do 1, 3 or 6 miles, so can select the distance that is a challenge for them and make sure they get sponsored while they do it.
Sport Relief harnesses the power and passion of sport to change lives for the better. By doing sport, having fun and raising money, everyone can do good and feel good. Comic Relief spends the money raised to help vulnerable people living incredibly tough lives both at home in the UK and in the world’s poorest countries.
Since Sport Relief started over £360,000 has been spent on projects in Wales, Including Llandudno Blind Bowling Club which gives blind and visually impaired people the chance to socialise and support each other whilst playing bowls together and The Pirates Wheelchair Rugby Club uses Sport Relief cash to encourage disabled people to get involved in sport, thus increasing their sense of independence and confidence.
Paul Smith at Cardiff City Council said: “We’re delighted that Cardiff has been selected to host this exciting event once again. It was a huge success in 2006 and we’re looking forward to seeing thousands of residents taking part this year, getting sponsored and raising money for Sport Relief”.
Frances Jenkins, Strategic Manager for Tourism, Marketing and Events in Swansea said “We are really pleased that Swansea has been selected to host this exciting event for the first time. We call on all residents of Swansea to turn up, get sponsored, have fun and raise money for Sport Relief.”
STARS RISE TO THE CHALLENGE
Olympic gold medal winning rower, James Cracknell will be taking the lead in inspiring the nation by undertaking a momentous challenge whereby he travels from England to Africa under his own steam. Alan Shearer and Adrian Chiles will also be rising to the challenge for Sport Relief when they take on a Newcastle to London cycle ride.
This year record breaking X-Factor superstar Leona Lewis will be releasing the official Sport Relief single.
Tune in for a fantastic night of TV entertainment on Friday 14th March. Sir Alan Sugar is set to boss ten top celebrity candidates in Sport Relief Does the Apprentice, Bruce Forsyth and Tess Daly will be hosting a very special edition of Strictly Come Dancing and Stephen Fry will be keeping the teams in line for a Question of Sport Relief – and much, much more.
Live coverage from the Mile events will be shown during The Sport Relief Mile Show on Sunday 16th March on BBC ONE, with those participating being the stars of the show.
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For more information about how the money is spent across Wales and pictures contact:
Vicki Spencer v.spencer@comicrelief.com or call 029 2032 3506
Rachel Madge r.madge@comicrelief.com or call 029 2032 3685
BBC Sport Publicity
Scott Branch: scott.branch@bbc.co.uk or call 020 8225 9900
Online Media Centre: www.sportrelief.com/media
Notes to Editors
- Rise to the challenge for Sport Relief by doing the Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Mile on Sunday 16th March. Visit www.sportrelief.com to find out more
- There are 23 flagship Miles to choose from:
Belfast Custom House Square, Birmingham Centenary Square, Brighton & Hove Madeira Drive, Bristol Harbourside, Cardiff Cardiff Bay, Coventry The Whittle Arches, Edinburgh West Princes Street Gardens, Gateshead Saltwell Park, Glasgow Glasgow Green, Hull Queen Victoria Square, Ipswich Portman Road, Leeds Roundhay Park, Liverpool Waterfront, London Victoria Embankment, Manchester Albert Square, Middlesbrough Centre Square and MIMA, Milton Keynes Midsummer Boulevard, Norwich St Peters Street, Nottingham Victoria Embankment, Plymouth Plymouth Hoe, Sheffield Millennium Square, Southampton Palmerston Road, Swansea National Waterfront Museum
- To make a donation, call 08457 910 910 (calls cost no more than 4p per minute from BT landlines. Other operator and mobile rates may vary)
- Since its launch in 2002, almost £50 million has been raised through Sport Relief.
- Comic Relief spends the money raised to help vulnerable people living incredibly tough lives both at home in the UK and across the world’s poorest countries.
- Sport Relief is an initiative of Comic Relief, registered charity 326568
