About Ron Pickering Memorial Fund
The Fund was set up in memory of Ron Pickering, former National Coach and BBC Sports Commentator, to keep alive his belief that sport could enhance the lives of the young in more ways than the physical.
Nominal grants up to £500 are given annually to 200 talented young athletes under the age of 23, while they are in education, to provide basic support for training and equipment expenses.
Since 1991 over £800,000 has been given to thousands of young athletes, including many who have progressed to win medals at major international championships, among them Olympic Gold medallists Denise Lewis, Jason Gardner and Marlon Devonish. Others include Kelly Sotherton, Dean Macey, Phillips Idowu, Nathan Douglas and new internationals Jessica Ennis, Jeanette Kwake, Craig Pickering and Martyn Bernard. These days, at least 75% of the members of any G.B. team at a major championship have received support from our charity.
With a view to the 2012 Olympics we have recently offered significant long term support to athlete/coach partnerships in order to improve their chances of winning medals.
None of this would have been possible without the money raised in sponsorship every year by our “Run for Ron” team in the London Marathon. With their continued support of our charity, our aim is to distribute over £1 Million to young athletes before the 2012 Olympics in London.
Our history
Ron Pickering, OBE, was many things: teacher, coach and BBC TV Sports Commentator.
Above all he stood for the ethics of sport, the aspirations of the young and for the belief that sport could enhance their lives in more ways than the physical.
“Sport is the most precious commodity we have to hand on to the next generation,” he said.
When Ron died in 1991, a permanent expression of his ideals was created through his Memorial Fund. It has since become an established element in the support of young aspiring athletes in the UK.