The inaugural Rising Star Awards have been presented to beneficiaries of the newly established Stacey and Lucy Foundation. 

The Foundation was established in memory of young athletes Stacey Burrows and Lucy Pygott who were tragically killed in an accident in November 2016.  Stacey and Lucy, both first year students at The Sixth Form College Farnborough, were unassuming, dedicated young women, committed to reaching the top of their sport by working tirelessly in pursuit of their ambitions.

The girls' contribution to sport was recognised when multi-Olympic champion Lord Sebastian Coe, president of IAAF, awarded them with Eagle Radio’s Community Champions award last year.

The Rising Star Award is aimed at helping College students in their quest to reach the next level in their chosen sport.  Following receipt of the applications for support from young hopefuls, the families of Stacey and Lucy selected this year’s Award winners.

Stacey’s mother and father, Helen and Lee Burrows, accompanied by her older brother, Lee, were delighted to make awards to the following four outstanding young sportsmen and women:

Emily Jones – County cross-country and regional steeplechase athlete

Rebecca Kennedy – local club archer aiming to reach first class classification

Lucy Moores – British National swimmer aiming for international recognition

Ben Thomas – GB under 19 American Footballer, soon to take up a scholarship in the USA

Speaking of the first Award winners, Lisa Pygott, mother of Lucy, said, “We feel that these four students all represent the values that we loved in Stacey and Lucy: they all deserve to receive help from the foundation.  Making these Awards feels like a really positive way to remember two very special girls.”

The prize giving was held at the College beside the commemorative garden which has been created in memory of Stacey and Lucy.  Speaking afterwards, Award winner Emily Jones said, “Thank you so much for this award, it will help me afford the coach transport to my competitions over the summer and be able to buy a new pair of spikes to run in. I love to train with my teammates but my current spikes are causing me pain so I am not able to run to the best of my ability. I hope that with the right equipment this summer I can make it through to represent Hampshire in the English Schools cross country finals which would be amazing.”

Principal, Simon Jarvis reflected, “I am very proud of all of the students granted an award: their dedication to achieving sporting success alongside their many other academic commitments is truly extraordinary – a fitting tribute to two wonderful young sportswomen.”