Katie Evans from Blossomfield Tennis Club, Solihull received recognition of her volunteering work for tennis from Dave Moorcroft at the British Transplant games being held at Warwick University. Dave presented Katie with the Dame Kelly Holmes Double Gold Award, the seventh person to receive the award Nationally and first to a female to be presented in Warwickshire.
Katie has logged 400 hours of volunteering for her local club, the county and has also worked for a week at Wimbledon.
“I really enjoy running competitions at our club for players of all ages, but I have particularly enjoyed working at the AEGON Classic Women’s International event at Edgbaston Priory and also Wimbledon.” Says Katie, “When I return from my holiday I will be spending a week helping at the Junior County Closed but my ambition is to volunteer at the 2012 Olympics.”
Dave Moorcroft, the ambassador for the 32nd Westfield Health British Transplant Games, took time out of his busy schedule to congratulate Katie alongside Emma O’Dowd the Partnership Development Manager from Coventry Solihull and Warwickshire Sports Partnership.
“The Kelly Holmes Double Gold award is the top recognition in the Step into Sport volunteering programme run by the Youth Sports Trust, Katie has achieved bronze, silver and gold recognition prior to receiving her award, we have many other young people enthusiastically working at their sports clubs across the region aiming to emulate this success.” says Emma.
In Warwickshire we have a network of young tennis leaders and competition organisers who work in their clubs supporting the many competitions and coaching opportunities provided for young people, Katie leads the way with this recognition but we are encouraging other young people to follow in her footsteps.” commented Jayne Ashton the Tennis Development Manager from Warwickshire Lawn Tennis Association.