Former Unsung hero Lance Haggith has been recognised for his charity efforts over the last 13 years.
Lance was crowned Unsung Hero at the BBC Sports Personality Awards in 2010 for outstanding services to sport which spanned more than 30 years.
In 2009 Lance launched Sports Traider – a charity with a mission to enable young people to fulfil their sporting potential whatever their background or ability.
Since the launch the charity has provided more than 200,000 hours of sports and life skills coaching and donated more than one million units of sportswear and equipment to children from disadvantaged backgrounds throughout the UK.
What started as one man’s mission has also seen a dozen shops – the first charity sports shops in the UK – open throughout the country – from the South East, across the Midlands and in the North of England.
On June 1, it was announced that Lance was awarded an OBE for charitable and voluntary services to Vulnerable People, particularly during Covid-19.
Lance said: “It is a great honour to be recognised and something which I will undoubtedly take very seriously.
“To be nominated for this honour is unbelievable and when I first received the news I could not quite believe it. I really want to thank everyone who has supported myself and Sports Traider throughout our journey so far.”
The charismatic personality and sheer commitment to helping others in the community has seen Lance create long-lasting relationships with those the charity has supported nationally and further afield.
“I started Sports Traider because I wanted to make a difference by helping others as much as I can,” said the former National League basketball player and coach.
“I will never forget the day at a Youth Centre some years ago, where I was coaching basketball, a young child came into a class and he was soaking wet from the rain outside. It was the middle of winter and he told me that he couldn’t afford a coat so I went to the lost property box, found him a coat and gave it to him. He was so appreciative and grateful and the look on his face was that eureka moment where I decided to start the charity.”
Lance adds: “Over the years we have had young people go on to represent the country in many sports, play for Premiership Football Clubs, and we even had a junior cycle team compete nationally against the likes of Sky and WD40. Not only were we one of the first charity teams but we went on to be national champions. We have also helped many children learn to swim, providing much needed sports kit and equipment, paid coaching fees as well as provided adapted equipment for disabled young people and set up sports clubs in deprived areas where young people can attend free of charge.
“We have seen so many young people grow in confidence, moving away from crime, self-harm and talking of suicide.
“I know myself how beneficial sports can be and I am now hoping we can go on and continue to help many more young people. I always try to keep in touch with as many people as possible as I have formed great friendships over the years – I was even the best man at a wedding of someone who the charity supported! I, myself know the benefits sports brings both mentally and physically – which is why I try and give as many young people a helping hand to go on to achieve their dreams.”
In the last ten years Lance – who served six years in the Royal Naval reserves following in his fathers footsteps based at HMS Warrior – has received various accolades for his commitment in supporting others.
In 2001 he received the Queens Royal society bravery award for pulling a young girl from a burning car, then in 2011 Lance received recognition by the Prime Minister and was awarded the Big Society Award from David Cameron for helping to make a difference in the community.
In the same year Lance – was a Big Venture Challenge winner.
The year 2012 saw Lance invited to be an Olympic torch bearer and five years later, in 2017 awarded Honorary Doctor of science for outstanding services to sport from the University of Bedfordshire.
Sports Traider’s head office is located in Milton Keynes and their shops can be found here https://www.sportstraider.com/shop-finder/.
For more information about Lance and his charity Sports Traider, which is supported by its chain of UK charity shops and donations, please visit: https://www.sportstraider.com/.
