Chiswick Mum Organises Super Saturday Of Sport

Kirsten's love of sport was inspired by her Australian childhood

A Chiswick mother-of-two is using her passion for sport to organise Chiswick's first ever Super Saturday of Sport for children.

Kirsten Lonsdale has gathered a group of volunteers to organise a variety of events on August 17th on Turnham Green between 11am and 3pm.

There will be music based activities and indoor rowing inside Christ Church, while 12 sporting clubs and businesses will offer free training to children on the grounds outside. The sports include Football and Football for children with disabilities, Rugby, Tennis, Hockey, Taekwondo, Indoor Rowing, Animal Fu (martial arts to music), Aerobics, Dance and Basketball. 

"At the moment, I am funding some of the event myself and I have managed to attract a small grant from Community Games", says Kirsten.

"I have a real commitment to children being active, but I am hoping to cover my costs through local stalls and businesses using the event to promote themselves and sell their goods. If I do cover my costs, any surplus money will be donated to the sporting charity, The Sported Foundation and Christ Church who are in the process of a restoration project." 

Kirsten got the idea while doing a leadership course, as part of which she needed to organise a community project. She recently organised a series of weekly nursery picnics for children at the Strand-on-the-green infants school which were a great success.

"I am Australian and my experience of childhood was having access to sport all of the time and then that just becomes a way of life. It is just something that you stay connected to through your adult life. 

"I really want that for my kids and the kids in Chiswick. Sport can be such a great teacher and if I can just open up new opportunities for kids and local clubs.Then I will feel as though I have really contributed to the community."

July 13, 2013