Thanks to a box donation from British Athletics, Box4Kids entered its ninth sport on 22nd and 23rd July, inviting 12 children and a guest each to watch the Müller Anniversary Games in style.
In addition to the VIP hospitality, the kids met numerous Team GB athletes over the weekend. Our Patron Katarina Johnson-Thompson, Adam Gemili, Jenny Meadows, Goldie Sayers and Laura Muir, who broke the British 1,500m record at the event, all greeted the children in the box.
On the Friday night the children also got an opportunity to go down to the tracks, where they watched Usain Bolt warm down after winning his 200m race. You can watch a video of the children’s encounter with Bolt below!
A parent wrote to us saying, “Freddie would like to express a huge thank you to Barrie Wells and all the team who gave him and his dad the most memorable day ever. I have seen Freddie grin, but not so much as when he came home saying that he couldn’t put into words how special the day had been for him! This special day enabled respite from all the symptoms and drudgery of his illness and treatment.”
The Anniversary Games was not only Box4Kids’ first athletics event, but also a return to athletics for the Trust after the Athletes4Schools programme ended in 2012.
“It was incredible bringing Box4Kids to athletics as it is a sport very close to my heart,” says Barrie Wells. “It was two very exciting days for the children meeting the athletes who were competing – and running into Usain Bolt! The support from British Athletics and the athletics community in making these kids’ days special has been absolutely overwhelming.”
With huge thanks to British Athletics and the athletes for helping create these lasting memories for a group of deserving children at Müller Anniversary Games!
You can watch a montage of the highlights of the weekend in our video section.
If you have an executive box which you would like to donate for the benefit of seriously ill children in your area we would love to hear from you. Click here to contact us.
