SPONSOR A SPOKE for talented racer BenCornishBMX
Donation protected
Hi, my name is Adam, and I’m raising money to enable my son Ben Cornish to represent Great Britain in Olympic Race BMX at the European BMX Cup series in 2023.
Ben winning a National Series race in Gosport in 2021
Photo: 15Fifteen Sandra Smith
Aspiring Olympian Ben Cornish's family can only fund six of the 12 European Cup races in 2022. But Ben has set his sights on representing Great Britain at all the European races in 2023 - with the support of amazing local businesses who ‘SPONSOR A SPOKE.’
BMX racing is an exciting, sprint-based Olympic sport requiring exceptional power, skills and nerve. It is classed as an extreme contact sport and launched Sir Chris Hoy’s cycling career. It involves eight riders sprinting down a 5m high start hill, racing a 400m track through a series of jumps, tight corners, and technical rolling low jumps to finish. It's fast, furious and physical, and a race lap is completed in under 40 seconds.
Ben jumping over two fallen riders in round 4 of the National Series.
Photo: Chris Jeffery
National Olympic race BMX champion Ben, 14, from Bovey Tracey, races for Exeter Eagles BMX club and finished 4th in his last European Cup Race against 15-16yr olds, but he can only compete in 6 of the 12 rounds because of a lack of funding. Sadly he is currently also unable to represent GB at the 2022 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS in Dessel, Belgium.
Did you know British Cycling only funds the top 6 adult BMX racers, and
- British Cycling expects u18s to prove their commitment by self-funding.
- Progression to the funded GB team is based on results and weighted toward international results.
- Riders representing Great Britain at the World and European championships even have to pay for their GB shirts.
- Charities & grant-giving bodies will only support community groups and other registered charities.
- Big businesses are the same - they claim donations back against tax, and individuals are excluded.
Funding National standard racing for young elite athletes is challenging for most families. Ben's nearest National standard track is 3hrs away in Birmingham, and he travels to Manchester twice a month to train at the National Cycling Centre.
Ben racing the National Indoor BMX arena at British Cycling HQ, Manchester.
Photo: BMX Widow Photography
Ben does his bit splitting donated wood and selling it for firewood to fund bike upgrades - raising £600 in 2021. Over four years, the family has committed all their disposable income and remortgaged, buying a van that Ben and his dad sleep in at races to save money. But no average family can fund an additional seven weekends of European Racing - on top of racing across the UK.
Ben is working for the support of his local business community to reach the Olympics. His hard work, skills and determination have already resulted in him being selected to represent the South West and Great Britain. Now he’s inviting businesses to get behind him and Sponsor a Spoke on his ‘winning’ bike.
- Ben is on British Cycling’s Talent Development Program, where he trains with Tokyo Olympics Gold & Silver medallists Beth Shriever and Kye Whyte.
- Was British Cycling's highest-ranked 13yr old in 2020 British Cycling Ranking Link 2020
- He is British Cycling’s 14yrs 2021 National BMX Series winner.
- Was British Cyclings highest-ranked 14yr old in 2021 British Cycling Ranking Link 2021
- Ben represented the South West at Sport Englands School Games in Loughborough University in 2021.
- He won the 15-16yr 2021-22 winter series at fourteen.
- Is currently leading British Cycling’s 15yrs 2022 National BMX series,
- At fourteen in this year’s European BMX Cup Series, Ben was 11th out of 240 riders in the 15-16yr old category - before his funding ran out.
Ben is working to identify 72 local businesses willing to ‘SPONSOR A SPOKE’ on his bike for £100, or £50 for half a spoke. The combined sponsorship will be used to enable him to attend all the international races in 2023 and hopefully the 2022 European Championships in Dessel - Belgium.
Sally & Steve at Cafe64 in Bovey have been sponsoring Ben for Years.
Each of the seven European race weekends costs approximately £1000, broken down into:- flights, ferry or channel tunnel, car hire, special bike carriage and airport parking if we fly, tolls, fuel and four days parking if driving, accommodation for four nights, bike and medical repatriation insurance, race fees and GB shirts.
In return, we will keep sponsors and the local community updated on Bens's progress on Facebook, highlighting their support, and supply each business with a receipt for their donation (in these circumstances, we believe this sponsorship could be reclaimed as a legitimate business PR expense)
In further support of Ben's cause:-
The Coaching Developing lead for the SW, Ryan Stack, says
“Ben has the potential to be number one in the world.”
GB Team Manager for the last European Cup Race, Hugh Coppin, said
“Ben is incredible on a bike and fearless – BUT he needs to race more internationally.”
The feeling you get when you win a National event or hear that a local business believes enough in you to donate.
Photo: Cameron Smith Photography
CAN YOU OR DO YOU KNOW A BUSINESS WHO MAY HELP?
The incredible @jontydepp at Bovey Tracey’s 2019 Craft Festival.
Captain Jack crossed Ben's palm with gold and challenged him to a race across the high sea ..... he didn't fancy crossing him on a BMX track, though!
Ben received fantastic support last year and we are hugely grateful to the sponsors below, who enabled him to compete in six of the twelve UEC European BMX Cup Series in 2022:-
Mark Baker Timber, Loughtons Independent Financial Advisors, Made by Hand Online, Cafe Sixty Four, The Craft Festival, JMVSolutions, Choy’s of Bovey, Jolly Roger Lifesize Models, Pretzel Yoga Studio, Mary-Rose Mountford Health & Well-being Coach. Chudleigh & Bovey Masonic Lodge, The Cheese Shed, Vaillant Group UK Limited, The Community Kitchen Hub, T-Cutz Barber, Hairwaves Unisex Salon, IJH Executive Cars LTD, Bowden Tucker Joinery, Meat59, Oak International Freight, Newton Pet & Aquatic Jewsons Newton Abbot. Ashburton Cookery School, Milestone Veterinary Practice, Welcome Stranger Inn and their Charity Spoofing Club, Ashley Foster Logs, The Clay Loft, Bovey Gardening Club and Bovey Veteran Footballers Helen Round
#BenCornishBMX #Sponsoraspoke
Organizer
Adam Cornish
Organizer
England
