I am delighted to host our second invitational lacrosse tournament in aid of the Charlie Waller Trust. Since the age of 11, lacrosse has formed a significant part of my life. I loved team sport at Downe House, and through sport (mainly lacrosse), I have enjoyed many of the best times of my life. Even now, I recognise all the vicarious passion that we as parents feel when supporting our daughters teams. Never have I been more interested in following the British Universities League! Thrilled to see OMs and St Mary’s Calne alumni (and my daughters) all continuing to play lacrosse at University, largely due to appreciating the value of being part of a team. Through success and failure, victory and defeat, we celebrate the good times and develop the resilience to cope with the bad, with the help of our friends.
It has been my pleasure and privilege to work closely with the Charlie Waller Trust. Their great work helps to improve young people’s understanding of their mental health and wellbeing.
They equip them with the knowledge, skills and confidence to fend for themselves and be more aware of those around them. They complement what we as sports coaches do and, as such, they are our partners of today’s event.
We welcome you all to Marlborough today to enjoy some exciting lacrosse in aid of such a good cause. I know it will be competitive; especially as we all look to prepare our teams for the National Championships next weekend. However, I do hope that players, parents and staff will all take a moment to recognise and appreciate the bigger picture and value of the camaraderie of team sport.
Heidi Marvin Head of Lacrosse
The Charlie Waller Trust is a mental health charity that educates young people, and those who support them, about their wellbeing. They provide parents, carers, employers, educators and young people with free training, webinars and resources. These are designed to break down the stigma surrounding mental health problems, arm people with the tools to take care of themselves and others, and get the world talking openly about mental health.
charliewaller.org
