Sportspark can announce that Norwich shopping centre, Chapelfield, is the new main sponsor of the Starlight Walk. The Starlight Walk is a 13 mile charity walk organised by Sportspark, based at the University of East Anglia in Norwich. The walk around Norwich outer ring road starts and finishes at Sportspark. The Starlight Walk has been running since 2006 and has so far raised over £270, 000 for Macmillan Cancer Support, all of which is spent on cancer care in Norfolk. The money raised has funded additional Macmillan nursing care in Norfolk.

Chapelfield has agreed to a one year sponsorship package which will help fund costs associated with organising the event and making sure it runs smoothly on the night. The deal was finalised after the Starlight Walk’s previous sponsors, Bennetts went into administration.

Director of Sportspark, Keith Nicholls said: “We are delighted that Chapelfield has stepped in to ensure the Starlight Walk can go ahead this year. The Starlight Walk is different to many charity events because the whole amount raised, including entrance fee and sponsorship money, goes straight to Macmillan and isn’t spent on things like free goody bags. This is why having a sponsor is so important to help us cover the cost of organising the walk.”

He added: “Chapelfield is the perfect sponsor for the Starlight Walk. With over 90 shops, cafes and restaurants, they are well placed to help us raise awareness of the event. Chapelfield’s commitment to playing an active role in our community supports our belief that local fundraising money should be spent locally. I would also like to thank Bennetts for their previous support and wish their employees well for the future.”

Sheridan Smith, marketing manager at Chapelfield said: “We are very happy to sponsor the Starlight Walk Norwich; and to continue the good work done by Bennetts and their staff in previous years. As an organisation we support our local community in lots of different ways; and the Starlight Walk is a true highlight in the city’s fundraising calendar. It is an event that people from all walks of life really look forward to, get genuine satisfaction from taking part in, and has achieved fantastic results over the years. This year we will strive to help raise even more money, for Macmillan Cancer Support, for the direct benefit of people all over the county.”

Sportspark employees give up their time to help plan the Starlight Walk and volunteer to ensure it runs smoothly on the night. 710 people took part in the 2010 Starlight Walk which raised an impressive £68,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support.

This year’s Starlight Walk takes place at midnight on Friday 24 June. Application forms can be collected from the Sportspark Reception or downloaded from the Starlight Walk website www.starlightwalknorwich.co.uk. The walk is open to men and women but participants must be over the age of 16.

The Starlight Walk could not go ahead without the support of members of the public who volunteer. Sportspark is once again looking for people to volunteer as road marshals, to help meet and greet, and help set up the event. If you would like to volunteer on the night please contact Jane Rumball on 01603 593 779 or email [email protected]. Alternatively application forms can be downloaded from www.starlightwalknorwich.co.uk

A Norfolk teenager, who has attended Sportspark’s Junior Volleyball club has been crowned an Inter Regional Champion. Rebecca Warrington, 16, from Barford near Norwich, won the 2011 Inter Regional Championship with the East Girls Under 16 team. The Inter Regional Championships is for Junior Volleyball players who are part of Regional Talent Development Programmes. Ten regional teams from across England and Wales took part in the tournament at the National Volleyball Centre in Kettering on 30 April and 1 May.

Rebecca, who attends Wymondham High School was the only representative from Norfolk to take part in the Championships. She has been in the East Girls Under 16 squad for two years, and helped the team come 4th in last year’s tournament. Her other team mates are all from Essex. The squad is coached by Norfolk Volleyball Development Coach, Tomasz Morawski. Tomasz coaches weekly Junior Volleyball sessions for 9 – 18 year olds at Sportspark in Norwich. Rebecca first attended the group three years ago and has since progressed to join the East Girls Under 16 squad. Rebecca and her team mates received a Volleyball England medal engraved ‘Under 16 Inter Regional Champions’ at the medal awards ceremony on Sunday after the team won every game in the Inter Regional Championships, beating the West Midlands Girls Under 16 team in the final.

Tomasz Morawski has been appointed by Volleyball England to coach the East Region Talent Development Squad. He has coached them since October 2010 and has guided them through friendlies and five Eastern tournaments in preparation for the 2011 Inter Regional Championships. In the run up to the event the squad played against other experienced players from national league teams from the East region in five open Senior tournaments.

Tomasz said: “I am very proud of the girls. They were very committed throughout the eight month preparation process. They have shown great spirit and attitudes throughout this time and thoroughly deserved to win.”

He added: “It just goes to show that by starting out at a local club like the one at Sportspark, you can become a champion of England! The club is open to anyone of any ability. You never know, in a few years you could also be winning games at a national level, just as Rebecca is now.”

Rebecca said: “The standard was high this year, some games were quite hard but we were more prepared as we’d had longer to train as a group. I like coming to the Sportspark club because it’s still good to play against some of the younger players. Sometimes it’s more difficult as you need to dive more for the shots they make.”

To find out more about the Junior Volleyball club at Sportspark contact Tomasz Morawski by emailing [email protected] or telephone 07849489394.