CARRYING THE FLAME – British Sporting Icons From the Mintridge Foundation Lead The East Midlands Academy Torch Relay 2025 To Inspire 2,297 Children
CARRYING THE FLAME – British Sporting Icons From the Mintridge Foundation Lead The East Midlands Academy Torch Relay 2025 To Inspire 2,297 Children
The East Midlands Academy Trust Relay was back for another year and the Mintridge Foundation was excited to support 2,297 children throughout the week with the unique platform of sporting role models, harnessed far beyond their medals!
This special programme of events sees the torch travelling to each of their schools within the Trust to see every pupil complete a mile by walking or running. Mintridge Ambassadors were on hand to support and encourage the children!
Mintridge Ambassadors involved:
Day One - Sophie Carrigill PLY - Wheelchair Basketball
Day Two - Emma Wiggs MBE – Paracanoe
Day Three - Heather Fell OLY - Modern Pentathlon
Day Four - Caragh McMurtry OLY - Rowing
This will lead towards their Ability Games which is a special event for their pupils with additional physical or communication needs taking place at Castle Academy on Wednesday 18th June with Mintridge Ambassador, Tania Nadarajah PLY (Archery).
We hope that this short blog is an insight into the fun that we have had…
The 9th June 2025 saw the start of the EMAT Torch Relay Week and to kick start the week, Team Mintridge was welcomed back once more to Northampton International Academy with ParalympicGB’s Wheelchair Basketballer Sophie Carrigill PLY.
The morning started with Year 6 running their mile which was quickly followed by the remaining years in the school. The children soon embraced Sophie wearing her foam hand and in true Mintridge style, lots of high fives and smiles followed.
Year 10 BTEC Students were invited to a short presentation that centred around the sheer adversity that Sophie has overcome, following a car accident when she was 16 that had left her paralysed from the waist down. We hope that the students took plenty away from Sophie’s passionate messaging. Sophie moved to meet the school’s “This Girl Can” committee for an informal round table discussion which gave rise to some really interesting questions from the group.
“What was it like going back to your friends after your accident?”
As Sophie explained, sometimes life throws your curve balls but you have to find a way to get through. Sport, and everything that encompasses it is what kept her going.
The Torch was nearly ready for its next stop.
On Tuesday 10th June, Team Mintridge travelled to Castle Academy with Emma Wiggs MBE as the Guest of Honour. Emma gave a brief yet powerful introduction to herself and her sport before setting each year group off on their mile run. It was incredible to see all of the children taking part.
Continuing from Castle Academy to Stimpson Academy, Emma sat with the Junior Leaders for a short Q&A session before moving outside to encourage everyone in their mile. We loved seeing the Year 3 children helping Reception and then staying in the playground to cheer on all the other year groups! Team work makes the dreamwork.
As the temperatures crept up, the Torch Relay reached its 3rd day of 4 – this time visiting Orchard Academy and Shepherdswell Academy in Milton Keynes with Modern Pentathlon Olympian Heather Fell OLY.
The first stop was Orchard Academy where Heather ensured that every child was ready and raring to go with her dynamic warm up before they were challenged to run as many laps of the school track as they could.
The torch didn’t have far to travel to get to Shepherdswell Academy where we had the youngest children to have taken part in a Mintridge activity – 2 year olds were running their challenge and they were very impressive! With so many smiling faces, Team Mintridge had another wonderful day.
Last but not least, the 12th June rolled around! Team Mintridge returned to Prince William School with Team GB rower Caragh McMurtry OLY. The Sixth Form Sports Leaders were invited to a Q&A session with Caragh to look and discuss what inspirational leaders look like. This was followed by a very interactive presentation to Year 7 students centred around resilience and autism.
From Prince William School in Oundle, the Team travelled across the county with the torch safely in tow to Hardingstone Academy where the school council were invited to a short Q&A with Caragh. The sunshine was calling outside as all year groups were the final EMAT participants to contribute their mile to the totaliser! Caragh gave participants in both sessions a thorough warm up before starting them off on their way, cheered along with the now trademark foam hands! The splattering of rain couldn’t dampen our spirits from a truly memorable week.
Thank you to all of the staff and students at each of the schools – we cannot wait for the Ability Games! BRING IT ON.
About Us:
The Mintridge Foundation is a UK-wide charity dedicated to turbo-boosting young people's development and opportunities through the transformative power of sports. Our innovative programs and collaborations inspire, mentor, and guide the next generation to thrive.
