GB & NI LEGENDS SURPRISE BOX4KIDS YOUNGSTERS IN LONDON

4th August 2023

GB & NI athletics legends past and present ensured the London Athletics Meet was well and truly a day to remember for a group of kids specially invited to watch the sold-out world-class event at the London Stadium in July.

World champion Katarina Johnson-Thompson and Olympic gold medallist Denise Lewis were among a number of British legends to pay a surprise visit as UKA and the Barrie Wells Trust worked together to bring Box4Kids back to the London Stadium following the pandemic.

Box4Kids is an initiative set up by the Barrie Wells Trust, which invites seriously ill children to enjoy sporting and entertainment events from the comfort of executive boxes, with UKA partnering with them to offer a unique experience at the London Athletics Meet.

Alongside Johnson-Thompson – who is a Patron of the Barrie Wells Trust and has benefitted from their support during her illustrious career – and Lewis, Olympic silver medallist Keely Hodgkinson and Olympic bronze medallist Goldie Sayers both also popped by to make the day extra special.

The Box4Kids group were all from London and the surrounding area and, as well as the surprise visits from Johnson-Thompson, Lewis, Hodgkinson and Sayers among others, witnessed a world-class day of athletics at a sold-out London Stadium including Zharnel Hughes’ blistering 200m British record and a number of other continental bests.

Chairman of the Barrie Wells Trust, entrepreneur and philanthropist, Barrie Wells said, “I was grateful to UKA for donating a box so that these children could enjoy some quality sport live with the additional bonus of meeting some of the athletes. Not only does the box provide the VIP treatment, it is also a safe and secure space for children with medical needs. It really encourages and inspires them and provides lasting memories for the children and their families.”