We spoke with Chris Williams, the Head of Commercial Partnerships at British Cycling about his run for a youth-focused charity in London.
Chris Williams really likes running. So, when the time came to do something to fundraise for Greenhouse Sports, a youth-focused charity, his choice of activity was pretty obvious.
“I’ve gained so much from sport,” he tells me on a call, as he walked around to catch some fresh air. That, he says, is the main reason for what most wouldn’t dream of attempting: a 100-mile run around London. For Williams, it’s a challenge – something to look forward to. Over the course of 30 minutes, he detailed his love of running, the need to support young people – and his fundraising efforts for Greenhouse Sports, a charity with a mission to change lives through sporting activities.
“I want to raise awareness of the fact that there are charities like Greenhouse who are doing amazing work to give children a better chance to engage with sport”, he says, describing his involvement with the fundraising project. For Williams, sport creates a huge opportunity to effect positive change, giving young people – especially those from underrepresented backgrounds – a chance to gain confidence, improve key skills, and stay out of trouble.
That work happens all across London, with organisations and charities working to change lives and increase opportunities. Few – if any – do it better than Greenhouse. So how did Williams come to hear of their work? He had a chat with a friend, Simon Dent, when he was working at Southampton Football Club (a subtle, but impressive flex): “back when I was working with Southampton Football Club, I got to know Simon – and you know, there are some people you just click with because you share the same sort of crazy tendencies and values.”
Those crazy tendencies include running long (very, very long) distances. Take their upcoming 100-mile run for Greenhouse, for example, an audacious goal by any standard. But for Williams, the cause behind it makes it all the more important. All he’s gained from his life, he says – the opportunities, travelling, meeting new people, working in great roles – is due to sport. Access to it, then, isn’t something to be reserved for a few – but an opportunity to be afforded to the many.
By placing coaches in schools around the country, Greenhouse does exactly that. The charity has been operating for nearly 20 years, changing the lives of young people (in particular, those from overlooked backgrounds) through sport. It’s a simple but effective idea – one that has worked for years. It’s why Williams, Simon Dent and Jamie Peacock are embarking on their 100-mile run. What the charity does really works. From gaining the attention of Princes William and Harry to winning multiple awards, the results of their practice-based mission are clear for all to see. On the importance of the work the charity does, Dent is fairly candid: “I’ve been aware of Greenhouse Sport for over 15 years now. I helped out with some coaching in Peckham on Tuesday nights and was touched by the work being done. I loved what the charity stood for and also hoped we would reconnect. Around 5 years ago, our paths crossed again, and I’ve been fundraising for them since. I couldn’t imagine growing up as a child without access to sport, and Greenhouse gives this access to children who otherwise wouldn’t have it. The coaches are passionate and it’s no surprise that programmes have developed national champions in a number of sports.”
For the less active amongst us, a 100-mile run might seem, frankly, ridiculous. The trick, Williams says, is to start small – something he forced his brother to do: I said to my brother let’s start doing some running – and at the start of lockdown last year, he was able to run 2k.” Then, it became a marathon in Barcelona, he said, proving that starting out small can lead to much bigger things . Or as he put it, “just take it one step at a time.”
Later this year, as he takes it one step at a time on his 100-mile run, he’ll be hoping to bring some much-needed attention to the work of Greenhouse Sports.
To support their fundraising efforts, donate via this link: Run for the Roof.
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