Two people in Bristol have been named as finalists in the BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2022 Unsung Hero awards. Mike Alden and Becca Todd are two of just eight volunteers to make the list of final nominees.
The Unsung Hero award celebrates volunteers who make a positive impact in their community by enabling participation in grassroots sports. The winner will be revealed live on air on BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2022 on Wednesday 21 December from 6.45pm on BBC One.
Mike Alden, from south Bristol, was diagnosed with brittle bone disease at the age of four, and has broken nearly every bone in his body. This didn’t stop him playing football in his childhood and he has since encouraged others to play the beautiful game by setting up Park Knowle FC.
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Based in one of Bristol’s most deprived areas, the club is open to anyone of any age and ability, with teams for boys, girls, veterans and disabled players. It’s a family affair with his wife, sons and daughter also a part of making the club such an asset to the community.
Becca Todd set up Team Brave, a fully inclusive football group aimed at women and girls based in Bristol. The training sessions take place every Wednesday night and over the last year, the number of women attending has increased rapidly.
It’s free, inclusive, fun and friendly and all about promoting mental health and confidence. Not only does Becca coach at Team Brave, she leads the club as a trustee, working with a committee to apply for funding so everyone can access football no matter their circumstances.
Other nominees include Rukhsana Hussain, from Leicester, who has become a role model for Muslim women encouraging them to play sport, get active and socilalise. Nooh Omar Ibrahim, from Cardiff, has been nominated for running games of street cricket in one of Cardiff’s most challenged areas and runs daily fitness and wellness sessions for all ages who have mobility, isolation and diabetes issues.
Mary O'Hagan from Ballyronan isa qualified mental health swim coach and she set up the Ballyronan Bluetits open water swimming club two years ago for the local community to enjoy. She became passionate about cold water swimming when she struggled with her mental health while pregnant, after her eldest two children were born blind.
Anna Pim, from Belfast, is just 17-years-old but already creating a legacy of coaches and volunteers for hockey in Northern Ireland. At the same time addressing player welfare through her ‘At the Heart of the Game’ programme, which equips clubs and individuals with skills and tools to address coronary safety.
Dave Thompson has been nominated for being a positive influence in the lives of young people in some of Aberdeen’s poorest neighbourhoods. His work with the StreetSport network has brought regular sport and creative sessions to the city and helped young people to discover better routes from their current circumstances.
And Helen Thornton has been nominated for seting up the Badminton Homes for Ukraine programme to enable Ukrainian families (who are known to the Ukraine Badminton Federation) to settle in England, from her base in Suffolk. As well as resettlement, Helen has worked to ensure refugees can continue enjoying and playing sport.
For further information about the Unsung Hero award, please visit www.bbc.co.uk/unsunghero.
The UK finalists are (in alphabetical order):
- Mike Alden (Bristol)
- Rukhsana Hussain (Leicester)
- Nooh Omar Ibrahim (Cardiff)
- Mary O’Hagan (Ballyronan)
- Anna Pim (Belfast)
- Dave Thompson (Aberdeen)
- Helen Thornton (Ipswich)
- Becca Todd (Bristol)
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