A WARWICK UNIVERSITY student has combined her passion for sport and fundraising by taking on the ultimate Olympic challenge.
Emma Davis is using the 16 days of the 31st Olympiad to complete all 31 sports listed as Olympic events at this year’s games in Rio while raising funds for charity.
The 24-year-old, who currently studies Infectious Disease Epidemiology, has already tackled sports including weightlifting, handball and volleyball – and has just completed the half way stage of her mission.
Emma is raising funds for Right to Play, a worldwide charity that uses sport to educate over one million children in some of the world’s most deprived areas.
So far, the former Maths student has already raised £250 for the worthy cause – and she’s hoping as the games gathers pace she can quickly double the current figure.
Speaking to The Observer, Emma said she’s always loved the Olympic Games and was lucky enough to get tickets to the London games four years ago.
She added: “The idea of completing all sports listed at this year’s Olympics started when Warwick University sent an email around asking students to compete in a variety of different Olympic sports by filling in an online form.
“From the start it sounded like something that was right up my street and I decided I wanted to complete all of the sports.
“I’ve completed 16 sports so far and have 15 to go, the hardest one for me is yet to come though.
“The triathlon will be tough given most athletes have a few days to recover from it whereas I’ll have to go straight back into competing.”
Emma’s efforts has even attracted the attention of local businesses as Canley-based sports massage therapist Fire & Earth Sports Massage have provided the student with free recovery sessions throughout her fundraising challenge.
Following hundreds of emails, tweet and facebook messages, Emma’s plans are now almost complete – with only rowing left to confirm a date and time.
She said: “The logistics side of things have been hard, I’m lucky that my mother owns a small boat in Southampton so that was an easy option for sailing – that’s not to say the boat returned in one piece though.
“There’s been a lot of emails and often it’s hard as people don’t respond to emails or tweets.
“Trying to find time to watch the Olympics has been tough itself.
“However I’ve met so many amazing people at different sports clubs who have been incredibly helpful given most of the time I’m a complete novice and don’t have any plans to take up the sport further.”
As mentioned, Emma is raising funds for Right to Play – a charity which has received the support of internationally renowned cyclist Mark Cavendish and British Olympic hockey medalist Alex Danson.
Funds raised by Emma’s Olympic effort will be used to ensure quality education, health practices, peaceful communities and leadership skills are delivered to the world’s poorest areas.
Emma said: “The charity does amazing work and uses sport to deliver education to one million children in some of the world’s poorest countries.
“I’ve done stuff for the charity before so it’s something I’m aware of and wanted to help further.
“So far I’ve raised £250 and I want to try and double that sum, though raising as much money possible is my ultimate goal.”
If you’d like to help Emma reach her £500, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ArcheryEmma where all donations go towards Right to Play.
